Dipeo is a board game designed to create learning opportunities through play. You buy and sell farm products such as seeds, chickens, goats and cows. You can start with a bag of seeds and end up with a vegtables and livestock –and a sustainable livelihood. Small becomes big. 

The player who has made the most values – both in cash and products – will be the winner. You don’t need to make it difficult for others to win because the important thing is to make your own money grow. 

Use your head and have a bit of luck.

The Dipeo game is suitable from the age of 7 and up and is played with 2-4 players or teams. One game lasts from 45 minutes.

Dipeo can be played both outdoors and indoors — on the ground or on a table. 

The players try out different strategies and learn in a tangible way what is smart to do — or not. 

The challenges are basic and easy to recognise. Rich illustrations bring the board game to life – and makes it easy to understand. 

When the players move from space to space on the game mat, different things will happen along the way. They will have to look for opportunities, think ahead, be faced with choices, and act on them. They engage in trade activities, budget their money — and can choose to take a risk to make their money grow.

Step by step. The game contains 4 steps with different learning opportunities, from the basic game to more advanced options. 

Step 1: Play the basic game. Practice calculations and decision-making.

Step 2: Get customers. Without customers the business will not grow.

Step 3: You can both save and borrow money to reach your goals. 

Step 4: Make your own rules. Use your creativity.        

Use the folder How to Play to learn more about the different steps of the game.

Click here to see the game rules in short scenes on video.

Play often within a limited time period. Give enough time to play the game, included time for discussions.

Here are some ways to organise the use of Dipeo:

• Combine the use of the Dipeo-game with other ongoing acitivities.
• Make a Dipeo project, at least 8 times in a streak.
• Arrange a workshop over a few days. See example below.
• Organise a tournament between different game groups, either from the same vicinity or from different locations. Instructions on how to organise a tournament are provided in the Facilitator’s Guide.

To get to know the full potential of the game, it is useful that someone guides the group. The responsible person will act as a facilitator.

The target group can play with a facilitator to begin with, and then go on to play on their own.

Dipeo can also be used as just a game, as a break from other work or learning activities.

The players will still learn about business and how to manage money. And they will have a fun, engaging and educating social activity.  

The DipeoGameTeam ran a workshop for a week in a village in  Botswana in June 2023. From 9 am to 4 pm every day. 

Participants played Dipeo each day and combined it with group discussions and the learning of handicraft skills. Themes in the Dipeo game were tied to real life situations, focussed discussions, and helped the participants setting concrete goals. The combination of handicraft skills and active playing was inspiring. A follow-up between the peers could also have been beneficial.

Key learning points were: 

• See and take opportunities. Develop ideas.
• How to deal with money. Saving. Taking risks.
• Self-management. Cooperation.
• Make action plans and schedules.
• Introduction to a handicraft technique