A board game, "Uly Dala Joly: History of the Great Steppe," has been developed in Kazakhstan, introducing schoolchildren and young people to the country's historical and cultural heritage in an interactive format. The project was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan through a small grant from the Center for Support of Civil Initiatives.
The creator of the initiative, which focuses on "Development of Volunteering in History and Culture," is Taraz resident Aqarys Aueskhan.
"The idea for the game came about during an ordinary evening with friends playing Monopoly. I thought: why not create a similar game dedicated to the historical sites of Kazakhstan? That's how 'Uly Dala Joly: History of the Great Steppe' was born. The goal of the game is not only to fill the gap in board games in the Kazakh language but also to make our history interesting and relatable to the younger generation," explains the project's creator.
The game was developed taking into account the recommendations and suggestions of historians. It is designed for 2-6 players aged 8 years and older.
Fifteen game sets have been released as part of the project. Testing took place in Astana, Karaganda, and Taraz.
The sets have been donated to educational institutions, youth organizations, and volunteer organizations. The developer plans to increase the print run.