Creative Youth Information Award category

Hai Hui prin Zarnesti

Title of the Project

Hai Hui prin Zarnesti

Organisation

Bridge To Unity

WEBSITE

https://www.instagram.com/btounity/

Project link

Project dates

October 12, 2025

October 12, 2025

What is it about?

Hai Hui prin Zarnesti was a game-based Treasure Hunt designed to creatively inform young people about Eurodesk and European opportunities while encouraging active exploration, teamwork, and community engagement. The main objectives of the project were to:

– raise awareness about Eurodesk and European opportunities such as Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps, DiscoverEU;

– present youth information in an interactive, non-formal, and engaging way;

– encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking;

– strengthen young people’s connection to their local community by transforming the city into a learning space.

– offer young people the opportunity to experience different professions through real-life tasks.

The target audience consisted of young people aged 15-30 from Brasov county. The project was accessible to young people with limited prior exposure to European

programmes, as many participants had never heard of Eurodesk, DiscoverEU, or the European Solidarity Corps before.

Activities undertaken included a full-day Treasure Hunt across Zarnesti, where teams followed creative clues (Morse code, puzzles, maps, riddles) to reach checkpoints. At each location, participants completed logic games, memory challenges, creative tasks, teamwork missions, and physical activities. A key component of the project

was hands-on career exploration: young people assisted local businesses by completing practical tasks such as helping a farm (Vila Hora cu Brazi), preparing

drinks (Jimmy’s Corner), cooking and serving (Sam’s Pizza). This allowed participants to explore different work environments in a safe, informal setting.

European opportunities were integrated through Eurodesk interactive games (“Adventures in Europe”, “MemorEurope”), testimonials from young people involved

in EU programmes (from the European Youth Portal), and informal discussions.

The project was entirely youth-led. The team designed games, clues, missions, using non-formal education and game-based learning methods,

ensuring learning happened through experience, play, and reflection rather than traditional presentations. The city itself became the “game board”, offering an

innovative, creative, and memorable approach to youth information.

How is this project relevant to the specific category?

“Hai Hui prin Zărnești” corresponds to the Creative Youth Information thematic category by reimagining how European opportunities can be communicated to young people through immersive, game-based learning and urban exploration. Instead of delivering information through traditional workshops or presentations, the project transformed the city of Zărnești into an interactive learning environment, where streets, public spaces, and local businesses became checkpoints in a dynamic, narrative-driven Treasure Hunt.

Rather than separating information from experience, youth information about Eurodesk, Erasmus+, DiscoverEU, and the European Solidarity Corps was embedded directly into challenges, clues, missions, and decision-making moments.

Participants decoded Morse code, solved riddles, worked with maps, collaborated with locals, and completed teamwork-based challenges, all while learning about Eurodesk and European programmes in a playful and non-formal way. This out-of-the-box approach allowed learning to happen naturally, through curiosity, movement, and discovery, rather than passive information consumption.

Innovation also came from linking Eurodesk values and European opportunities to real-life skill development and career exploration. Through short, hands-on tasks at local businesses (farm work, food preparation, customer interaction), participants experienced different professional roles while reflecting on skills such as communication, adaptability, and teamwork—competencies directly connected to mobility and volunteering opportunities at European level.

The project was entirely youth-led, from concept to implementation. Young organisers designed the storyline, clues, missions, visual identity, and learning moments, ensuring the content was adapted to the language, interests, and learning styles of young people. By combining gamification, storytelling, urban space activation, and non-formal education, “Hai Hui prin Zărnești” demonstrates an innovative model of youth information delivery. It proves that creativity can turn complex European programmes into engaging, memorable experiences, while fostering autonomy, critical thinking, and motivation to further explore European opportunities.

What was the impact of the project?

“Hai Hui prin Zarnesti” generated meaningful, multi-level impact by engaging young people while simultaneously activating the local community and public space.

At participant level, the project significantly increased awareness, understanding, and confidence regarding Eurodesk and European opportunities. Evaluation data highlights excellent outcomes:

– 100% of respondents rated communication, interaction, and support as very good,

– over 85% rated the information as very useful, 

– more than half of participants had never heard of Eurodesk, DiscoverEU, or the European Solidarity Corps before the event.

Crucially, the impact went beyond awareness: within two weeks after the Treasure Hunt, two participants took concrete action and joined a Youth Exchange, supported directly by Bridge To Unity. This demonstrates a clear conversion from youth information to real participation.

At community level, the Treasure Hunt transformed the town into a shared learning and interaction space. Several missions required participants to actively engage with local residents, asking strangers to reinterpret photos, play board games such as Jenga, or collaborate on creative challenges. These interactions sparked curiosity among locals, many of whom asked about the event, its purpose, Eurodesk and the European opportunities behind it. As a result, youth information organically reached beyond registered participants and into the wider community through informal conversations.

The project’s visibility was further amplified online. Content from the event was shared on Visit Zarnesti official Instagram account (over 11,000 followers) and in local community groups, significantly extending reach among residents of Zarnesti and surrounding areas. This helped position young people as active, visible contributors to community life and promoted a positive narrative around youth engagement and European programmes.

“Hai Hui prin Zarnesti” demonstrated how creative, youth-led youth information can simultaneously empower young people and strengthen community connection, making Eurodesk and European opportunities visible, accessible, and relevant at local level.

Did the project have any green focus?

The project was designed and implemented with a strong green focus, integrating sustainability into both logistics and participant experience.
The Treasure Hunt was entirely walk-based: participants were allowed to move only by walking or running, with no use of cars or other vehicles during the game, significantly reducing the event’s carbon footprint. Most activities took place outdoors, and for indoor checkpoints we relied exclusively on natural daylight, avoiding the use of electricity altogether.
We actively promoted waste reduction by asking participants to bring reusable water bottles, providing water refills instead of encouraging the purchase of plastic bottles. Prizes and materials included recyclable and reusable items, reinforcing environmentally responsible choices through practice rather than theory.
For participants travelling from outside Zarnesti, we encouraged the use of public transport, particularly trains, instead of private cars.
Through these measures, the project embedded sustainability into gameplay and decision-making, helping young people experience eco-friendly behaviour.

How did you ensure Eurodesk's visibility in your project?

Eurodesk visibility was ensured both offline and online throughout the project. The Time to Move and Eurodesk logos were printed on clues, envelopes, mission sheets, and testimonials, and a Eurodesk flag was displayed at the main event location. Participants interacted directly with Eurodesk through the Eurodesk games “Adventures in Europe” and “MemorEurope”, and received Eurodesk and Time to Move goodies as prizes. Online, all promotional and follow-up posts included the Eurodesk and Time to Move logos, Eurodesk Romania was added as an Instagram collaborator, and the content was further amplified through sharing by Visit Zarnesti official Instagram account (>11k followers).

Project highlights

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