The Topoly
Exploring the Palestinian Daily Life
The acronym “TOPoly” refers to the “Territoires Occupés Palestiniens” (Occupied Palestinian Territories). Designed in a similar fashion to the Monopoly board game, the TOPoly, created by the association “Soutien à Solidarité Hébron – SASH,” brings together people of all ages to explore daily life within the Palestinian Territories. Through this engaging experience, you can playfully delve into the heritage, locations, and challenges that characterize present-day Palestine.
The Topoly has been carefully crafted to be both enjoyable and educational. It is available in bilingual versions, either Franco-Arabic or Anglo-Arabic. The package also includes informative cards about each Palestinian city depicted on the game board. This enables you to gain insights into the heritage and distinctive features of the Palestinian territory.
The Impacts of the Occupation
The Topoly also serves as an educational tool, encompassing a wealth of information about the daily lives of the Palestinian population and the ramifications of the occupation. This information is conveyed playfully through the “Chance” and “Community” cards. These cards draw inspiration from situations, events, and customs one might encounter in the occupied territories.
The prices of Palestinian cities and neighbourhoods depicted on the board serve as indicators of the living conditions in the respective localities. Consequently, Hebron and Ramallah, being the economic and political hubs of Palestine, are represented as the most expensive properties. Conversely, the least expensive spaces depict refugee camps, where the population faces the most precarious circumstances.
Gaza is also depicted on a space, but it cannot be purchased and is represented as encircled by barbed wire. This portrayal reflects the current situation of the city, entirely cut off from the rest of the country, with its inhabitants unable to enter or leave.
Local Culture
The game also incorporates numerous elements of Palestinian culture. The various components of the game are made of wood, symbolizing the olive tree, which is one of the emblems of Palestine. The playing pieces feature symbols of the Palestinian people, such as the key of the refugees, the Jericho rose, and the grape cluster.
The “Community” and “Chance” cards, in addition to depicting negative events related to colonization, also showcase aspects of the local social and cultural life. For instance, the card “Meet in Nablus to savour a knafeh” references a local pastry. Similarly, the hotels in Monopoly are replaced by diwans. Those are family-oriented buildings dedicated to celebrations and hosting relatives. Diwans are prevalent throughout Palestine, as the importance of family is deeply ingrained in the culture.
Lastly, the currency of the game is the Palestinian Pound, which is the envisioned currency of a liberated Palestinian state.
Our Commitment to Quality
The Topoly board game is entirely manufactured in France and contains no plastic elements. The playing pieces, as well as the houses and diwans, are crafted from wood. The game includes a detailed documentation about the locations depicted on the board and a description of our mission.
The events portrayed on the “Community” and “Chance” cards are all drawn from real-life examples and situations frequently experienced by the Palestinian population. The game and the message conveyed refrain from any distortion or exaggeration. They maintain the primary objective of raising awareness and providing information about the living conditions in Palestine.