Diversity and group games for better inclusion 🧩

We had an amazing project in Kosky, Czechia. No surprise. But let us tell you a bit more (more fun, more gossips). 

The main goal of the Youth Exchange “Diversity and group games for better inclusion” was to bring young people together and give us the chance to create and test group activities for integrating newcomers. It was all about having fun while working together! Unlike a typical classroom setting with teachers standing in front of a blackboard, this youth exchange was nothing like that. Instead, we had an informal, dynamic atmosphere full of energy. That said, we still had highly skilled facilitators with us, who really helped shape the activities and gave everything a solid framework. Their support made the experience even more enriching!

We came together—42 young people from five countries: the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Estonia, and Portugal (with even more nationalities represented). Each of us brought our own unique stories and experiences. Our goal was clear: to build lasting friendships that would stay with us beyond this project. 

I personally loved seeing how many newcomers we were able to involve, many of whom were having their first international experience. It’s such a great feeling to know that we’re creating a network of friends across Europe, helping each other break down prejudices, understand cultural differences, and offer support whenever it's needed.

What happened day by day?

Day 1: Icebreakers and Cultural Fun We kicked things off with some fun icebreakers, introducing ourselves with games like human bingo. The first person to find participants matching traits on their card won a tasty Czech treat! After lunch, we took a bus to Třeboň, a lovely nearby town, and played a "speed dating" game to get to know each other better. Some of us explored the Schwarzenberg tomb with a guided tour, while others chilled in the garden or grabbed coffee in the center. In the evening, we had our first cultural night, featuring Estonia and the Czech Republic. We learned traditional dances, played Kahoot, and tried local foods. Some of us even discovered Czech Kofola was way better than Cola!

Day 2: Team Games and More Culture The second day kicked off with a fun challenge—lining up by height, age, and name without saying a word. Then, we played "2 Truths, 1 Lie," which helped everyone feel more comfortable speaking in front of the group. After a coffee break (poppy seed cake included!), we learned about important concepts like Youthpass and the European Solidarity Corps, and brainstormed ideas for sharing what we learned. Later, we enjoyed the "Human Library" activity, where people shared personal stories, and in the evening, we had an epic Spanish and Italian cultural night filled with food, pasta, sangria, and, of course, dancing!

Day 3: Exploring Český Krumlov Day three was all about exploring! We got up early to visit the UNESCO heritage town of Český Krumlov. Before that, though, we hiked up to the old Hrad Dívčí Kámen castle. It was a great chance to work on our group dynamics—making sure no one got left behind and helping each other out. After some team-building activities and a snack break, we headed back to the bus and made our way to Český Krumlov, where we spent the day sightseeing and soaking up the perfect weather.

Not just a trip! Or How we got better at teamwork in Český Krumlov? 

During project we had a trip to famous Czech town called Český Krumlov. At first, we thought it will be just a sightseeing trip to a touristic town. Yet, we didn’t know that the organisers had a surprise for us...

After reaching the town, we were divided into mixed international teams and each team was given a set of tasks to complete. The tasks were all part of one story that aimed to showcase and teach us more about the history of the city.  But moreover, it was a competition for team - whoever comes up with the best photos and videos while completing the tasks!

To give short grasp of tasks, for example, we were given very specific spots in the city to find and take photos or video on that spot. Not just a simple group photo, we had to take photos/videos in a very specific ways. How? Well, for example, read the poem on the wall as a group or find a random tourists to photo with them (P.S. it wasn’t easy to approach and convince tourists for photo - what a challange!). Another good tasks driving our team work capabilities was to make a word out of ourselves - yes, ourselves! We had to build letters using our bodies and come up with a word. 

Below you can also see our photo with random tourists whom we get to know as part of our tasks (btw, they were amazing people and they shared their passion for sushi with us).

We finished the trip by having some group energizer games in one of the most beautiful gardens of the historical town. It was fun and we figured out that people remembered each other's names pretty well (good result for only 2 days!).

Day 4: Inclusive Games and the Last Cultural Night On day four, we focused on teamwork and inclusion. We started with a game called "I’m looking for someone who," followed by a fun challenge where each group created and presented their own inclusive games. We wrapped up the morning with a dance activity and then tried something different: a "Game without Rules," where we explored how we feel when there’s no structure. Some loved it, while others felt a bit lost, leading to an interesting discussion afterward. That evening, we had our final cultural night, with Portugal, Azerbaijan, and Canada bringing their cultures to life through food, dance, and quizzes. We ended the night with music, dancing, and some pretty fantastic sangria.

Day 5: Reflection and Goodbye The last day was all about reflection. We started with a fun energizer and then split into groups to debate questions on topics like "Are men better drivers than women?"—sparking lots of discussion and teaching us to respect different viewpoints. After lunch, we held an international ping-pong tournament, with Nuno from Portugal taking the win! Some of us watched the match from the jacuzzi, enjoying a well-deserved break. Although it was the final day, we ended on a high note, with amazing memories, new friendships, and a deeper understanding of each other’s cultures.

The project resulted in a toolkit created jointly by all participants, and now we are sharing it with the world! There you can find different games and tools for your future projects 😉

You can download it HERE.

Thank you Active Vitorazsko, and all the participants for this experience!

Text: Gasim #erasmusplus