In the beginning of July Estonian team went to an Erasmus+ youth exchange project called "Letâs play". This youth exchange took part in small and quiet city of Hungary called MezĹberĂŠny and aimed to improve the key competences of participants with the help of games đ˛
Moreover, exchange tools and experiences related to game design, educational games earn about habit-building. Finally, develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and our needs by building bridges between cultures đđť
The first day of the project couldn't have started better. After an energizing breakfast, participants engaged in an icebreaker: walking in pairs to the park while discussing thought-provoking questions In the park, enjoy tranquil calmness, they set aside pronouns and focused on learning each other's names, discovering the powerful connection that comes from simply knowing and using someone's name.
To avoid melting under the sun (yeah the weather was đĽľ), they returned to the conference room for a creative session where they put their drawing skills to the test. Participants captured each other's essence through imaginative drawings, choosing hats and shoes for their partners.
The second day began early with participants waking up to the sound of roosters and enjoying a delicious breakfast. At 10 AM, they attended the first workshop of the day, organized by a participant from Greece. Working in teams, they completed tasks and answered questions related to Youthpass, a tool used to document and recognize learning outcomes from youth work and volunteering.
Next, they separated into the roles of game masters and explored different types of gamers: strategists, daredevils, investigators, builders, adventurers, and social players. After lunch, local media visited the venue for interviews and to make a video of us.
During the open stage session, Estonia presented a fascinating workshop about an average person from Estonia, challenging participants to guess their height and age through non-verbal communication. Following a short break, the game masters introduced various board games, explaining the rules.
As evening approached, participants enjoyed a cultural night hosted by Estonia and Italy, presentations, games, and food. The Estonian team gave an amazing presentation about Estonian boulders, and everyone ended the night with dancing and singing, celebrating the first rain of the trip.
Boris shares: "It that was just a very wholesome learning experience. During the 7 days we got to do so many different things: we created games, we played games, we made an election simulation, we were voting, we were swimming, we were gamifying our lives, we were singing with locals, we were playing boarding games with young people. We managed to do a lot of interesting stuff in very short amount of time and I never felt bored and curious. While on the project I got to know more about myself, after reflecting and talking to participants and now I actually can improve as a person because of that.
I would recommend this project greatly to everyone as it enhances type of different skills and develops new ones. Helps you relax and enjoy the learning process in a tranquil environment, one of the best projects I have been to!"
Evelina: "This project was an incredibly enriching experience. It focused on games in all their forms, teaching us about various types, players, and gamification. Creating our own board game was a highlight, and we spent a lot of time playing to understand the educational potential of games. Despite the challenges posed by the 38°C weather, the organizers ensured we remained active and engaged, incorporating feedback to improve our experience. The international exchange, constant use of English, and deep self-reflection through gameplay were invaluable. Additionally, it was surprising and rewarding to see that creating a board game in just a few hours was possible."
The project turned out to be a success and we are very grateful to our Estonian team for their proactiveness and creativity, and to our Hungarian partner 21 Days to give such an opportunity to our youngsters! KĂśszĂśnĂśm!
Text: Ilja, Boris, Evelina
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