Priority topics
Humanitarian Aid, Medical Aid, Epidemics
Target groups
Cycle 4, 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, Adults, Children’s Groups (ages 6–12), Youth Groups (ages 13–25), Children’s Groups (ages 3–5)
Vehicular languages
English, French
Duration
40 minutes
Objectives
The «Stop Ebola» escape room developed by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is a immersive awareness-raising tool. The escape room is set up in a tent so it can be easily moved and set up for the general public. Participation is free and open to all age groups (ages 10 and up). The tent is set up to resemble a Doctors Without Borders staff locker room and offers a glimpse into the daily life of a medical team working in a crisis situation. Ebola, a highly infectious and very dangerous disease.
Program
In teams of 2 to 8 people, you work for MSF and are on a mission during an Ebola outbreak. Will you be able to open all the lockers in time and put on your personal protective equipment before you begin your task?
This protective equipment is of critical importance for protecting healthcare and support staff responding to an epidemic or pandemic. It is used in particular in high-risk areas—areas where confirmed Ebola patients are being treated and where it is easy to become infected with the virus.
Methodological approaches
Our goal is to use the Escape Room as an awareness-raising tool, either at our offices in Luxembourg City or in schools. This activity is offered as a supplement to a presentation on MSF’s humanitarian projects and the contexts in which it responds to epidemics, particularly Ebola. The goal of the Escape Room is to help students understand emergency contexts and learn more about epidemics. Through hands-on experience, they learn about all the safety and hygiene requirements involved in treating highly contagious diseases, as well as the importance of communication, teamwork, and coordination.
Remarks
The minimum age is 10. The Escape Room has limited capacity and must therefore be played in groups of up to 8 students. However, it is possible to have one or more classes participate by rotating groups—a parallel activity is offered for the other groups. We recommend organizing this activity as part of a larger event—such as a festival, a solidarity day, or an open house—ideally over several days, so that as many students as possible can participate.
The tent measures 3 m x 3 m x 4 m in height. The designated space must allow for its setup, ideally indoors, or at a minimum, in a covered outdoor area..
