In December 2023 we have kick-started the project Interactive Games for Eco-Lifestyle which aims to inspire young people to embrace environmental protection through engaging board games and interactive city games. This exciting project kicked off with a collaborative meeting in Łódź, Poland, bringing together our partners from Greece, Latvia, and Poland.
Our primary goal is to create a variety of games that make learning about sustainability fun and interactive. One of our flagship games, Energy Dilemma, is a strategic board game that empowers players to become eco-leaders by making decisions that impact their energy use and sustainability efforts. It challenges young people to think critically about how to save energy and create a more sustainable world around them.
Additionally, we’re developing several other games that encourage eco-friendly habits, from recycling and upcycling to other sustainable practices. With each game, we hope to inspire the next generation to take meaningful steps toward protecting the environment.
Activities of the project
Besides the first meetings of the partners in Poland, in May 2024 we have implemented an international training course in Crete for youth workers and teachers aiming to improve their skills and help them to make their educational activities even more engaging and impactful. During a 3-day training, participants from Austria, Poland, Latvia and Greece had an opportunity to learn new gamification methods tailored to youth and cooperatively work on developing the Energy Dilemma board games through a series of workshops and non-formal education activities.
The training covered various engaging topics to enhance youth non-formal education through games and gamification:
- Create your own game: Through hands-on exercises, participants practiced designing game boards for “Home,” “Village,” and “City” environments, along with creating investment and energy event cards, gaining initial experience in educational game development.
- Games and gamification methods in youth NFE: They also explored the potential of games to engage and educate, transforming each learning opportunity into an exciting adventure.
- The role of a youth worker in designing educational games: The training offered insights on how to design and conduct educational games that connect with young people in informal learning settings.
- Shaping young people’s attitudes through gamification: Attendees learned strategies to positively influence attitudes and behaviours through thoughtful game design.
- Ecological games: Participants examined examples of games that both entertain and foster a sense of environmental responsibility.
What is next?
Starting next year, we will launch pilot sessions with young people to test and refine the games we’ve developed. These sessions will provide valuable opportunities for young participants to actively engage with the games, offering their unique insights and feedback. By involving young voices directly in the development process, we aim to make these games more impactful and relevant, ensuring they truly resonate with their intended audience.
Partners
