On 28 May 2024, Culture Goes Europe (CGE) hosted a dynamic gameplay session at Saline34 in Erfurt, bringing together a diverse group of young people to explore local and global challenges through collaborative simulation. The session, part of CGE’s ongoing commitment to civic education and participatory learning, offered participants an opportunity to engage with complex social issues in a safe, structured, and interactive environment.
Designed as a role-playing exercise, the activity allowed participants to step into the shoes of key community actors—from local leaders and citizens’ groups to youth representatives, activists, and policymakers. Each role came with a distinct perspective, challenge, and objective, prompting players to negotiate, debate, and co-develop solutions to shared problems. The gameplay, facilitated by CGE educators and trainers, reflected real-world scenarios and invited reflection on themes such as inclusion, sustainability, power dynamics, and community resilience. What set the session apart was its emphasis on experience-based learning. Rather than approaching these themes through lectures or discussions, participants were immersed in a situation that required strategic thinking, empathy, and collaboration. The decisions made in the game carried consequences, which rippled across the group and led to moments of tension, compromise, and, ultimately, insight.
Throughout the afternoon, the room buzzed with energy. Participants moved from planning alliances to debating ethical dilemmas and negotiating shared resources. For some, it was a first experience in navigating governance structures or articulating community priorities. For others, it was a chance to step outside their usual roles and try on different perspectives. The diversity of backgrounds enriched the dialogue and made visible the range of concerns and values that shape youth perspectives on social change.
In the debriefing that followed, participants shared their reflections on the gameplay and its connections to real-life challenges. Many noted how the activity highlighted the importance of listening, the difficulty of balancing competing needs, and the value of inclusive dialogue in decision-making processes. Others pointed out how the game offered a concrete experience of power imbalances, structural barriers, and the need for active participation at all levels of governance. This session at Saline34 reflects CGE’s broader educational philosophy: using participatory methods to equip young people with the skills, awareness, and confidence they need to engage meaningfully with their communities and democratic institutions. By simulating real-world challenges in a structured yet creative way, CGE continues to foster critical thinking, empathy, and action among young learners.
The gameplay session on 28 May marks another step in CGE’s ongoing effort to create inclusive, impactful, and transformative learning spaces. It served not only as a powerful educational experience but also as a reminder of the capacity of youth to lead, question, and co-create more just and resilient societies.
For more information about the project or to explore opportunities for collaboration, visit the PLANET4B website or email planet4b@zirs.uni-halle.de.
About PLANET4B Project
Horizon Europe research project PLANET4B aims to understand and influence decision making affecting biodiversity and to map existing knowledge that explains why certain decisions are made, to understand better how biodiversity can be prioritised in our decision-making.
PLANET4B receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101082212.
This project is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee.
This project receives funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI).
Contact person:
Maryna Bykova, CGE Erfurt e.V.
