Save It, an internet and cellphone-based game for school children, available free via the internet and on MXit, was recently launched by the Energy Minister Dipuo Peters.

The game is aimed at encouraging school children to save electricity and has been hailed by internet guru Arthur Goldstuck as a visionary idea.

“It is a great concept but may be missing the mark as there is far less MXit penetration among primary school kids than in high school,” he said.

“The initiative is visionary in that it tries to talk to children where they are, rather than trying to attract them to a government portal, which would seem an alien environment to them,” Goldstuck said.

The game has three superhero characters that set out to thwart the Energy Guzzler, a power-wasting monster who is using up the electricity in the home.  The characters are required to out-manoeuvre the Guzzler and beat him by saving all the power they can before he can undo their good work.  Children can compare their scores with other MXit users across the country.

At the Vryberg launch Peters said,” We are very excited to be using new media to communicate with the youth, who, let’s admit, are already far more techno-savvy than any adult.  Reaching the hearts and minds of South Africans starts with reaching the youth: we hope that they will take what they have learnt into their homes, their schools and, ultimately, into the future.”

The minister added that in light of both the recent electricity tariff increase and the global economic recession there was a drive by government to assist South African households to reduce their electricity bills.

Save It is available on MXit in Tradepost and may be downloaded freely from www.savingenergy.co.za.

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