Time To Travel

Europa Direkt Fyrbodal

Media materials:

Organisation:

Europa Direkt Fyrbodal

Country:

Sweden

About organisation:

Europe Direct is an information network run by the European Commission together with the European Parliament Information Office and the municipality of Åmål. The office is also co-financed by Region Västra Götaland. During this programme period, 2021-2025, there are nearly 500 information offices across the EU, and in Sweden there are 15 offices. Their information and activities are aimed at a broad public. Europa Direkt Fyrbodal will help you answer questions about the EU, guide you through EU programmes and regulations, find EU documents and organise EU related activities and events.

Contact person:

Kristin Björk

Title of the project

Time To Travel

Start date:

September 7, 2023

End date:

December 21, 2023

Source of funding:

The project was led by an ESC volunteer, so the main source of funding come from the ESC grant. The time the work mentor has taken to support the volunteer was funded mostly through other grants from the European Commission for the Europe Direct office.

Objectives:

The context: The project began on the annual meeting of Swedish Eurodesk (17-19 October 2023). One of the themes of these meetings was to present how to reach young people and they wanted the workshop to be presented by young people. So, the national coordinator of Eurodesk in Sweden asked for 2 workshops on how to reach young people in general (aged 17–30) and how to improve the material about European Solidarity Corps (Quiz). They asked an Eurodesk ambassador, Amalia, and a French ESC-volunteer who works at Europe Direct Fyrbodal, Estelle. They worked together but Amalia focused more on general information on how to reach young people and Estelle on how to improve the material to present ESC. The objectives: The main aim of the workshop was to improve the material used to present the ESC, which consisted of a quiz. With this in mind, we had to find a creative way of presenting this information and include more participation from young people so that they would be more interested in the mobility program that they will contact us to have more information about European opportunity of mobility. Estelle decided to create a board game “Time to Travel” to present the ESC program. Presentation of the game: Players will be travelers who want to build the best suitcase to get the most points. To do this, they'll have to travel to different European capitals to obtain the items by answering “mobility questions”, follow their travel plan or take up challenges.

Why does it correspond to the thematic category:

The aim of the workshop is to reach out to young people to help them discover all European mobility programmes. Estelle chose to use a game-based approach because most of the time it rhymes with fun. It creates and develops interest and motivation during the activity. Most of all the game rules is a way to help the young people to prepare to travel or to volunteer in Europe. Firstly, the game puts players in the shoes of a traveller. Their objective is to create a suitcase for their journey. And to get the items in the suitcase, they must answer questions about mobility programmes. They will also learn about the EU through the various other questions such as language tips, European citizen’s rights, stereotypes about other countries, etc... What's more, we've introduced some strategy into the game by using the travel plan and prioritising the items in the suitcase. They will have to think about which country they want to visit first, which item they need to get, etc., which will enable them to start developing the planning skills needed for a trip. Finally, this game can be played by more than 6 players as in classrooms, and so it can be distributed to a larger audience, it has been designed to be digitalised. All the material can be sent via PDF to be printed by the association. Instead of printing out the game board, they can put it on a team whiteboard or Skype /Teams etc (tools that most facilities have) and project it is using a video projector.

The impact the initiative had on young people and the local community:

The game Time to Travel had two different impacts on young people and the local community. Firstly, the game was created to have a big impact on young people that they can discover and remember the different European opportunities. The game is designed to make them want to find out more about different forms of mobility. By the game, the young people will also discover the European citizen’s rights and they impact their life like to not need to change a phone package when you travel. To think about how European union is important and to be part of it and become an active citizen. Secondly, the game was created in English so that it can be used by all Eurodesk multipliers in Europe. Like this it can reach a lot of young people in different local communities. Also, the game is translate into Swedish and French to reach more young people if they have difficulties with the English language.

How it ensured the visibility and promotion of Eurodesk:

The visibility and promotion of Eurodesk will be ensured with the game Time to Travel. The game speak about all the European opportunities that Eurodesk support. It allows Eurodesk multipliers to present these opportunities through a fun activity. And in the mobility cards questions about Eurodesk is proposed.

How it respected the green principles:

The green principles of Åmål municipality are very similar to the green office eurodesk principles and “Golden principles of green information services”. First, in general, we have a political decision to use public transport or the electric car of the municipality. For the meal, we use local product and vegetarian food. Second in the game, the player is informed of the opportunities for voluntary work, particularly in environmental protection, and is encouraged to not use too much plane. When the player travel in the game its cost nothing if he moves on the ground (like use train). If he chooses to take a boat it will cost one point and to use plane, 2 points. It’s to show that it will be easier to move far but it will cost more (in the sustainable way). Third, the game has been designed to be as digital as possible. It’s not needed to print the board game, and you need to print just one time the cards. And all the game can be sent by email/google drive.

The context:
The project began on the annual meeting of Swedish Eurodesk (17-19 October 2023). One of the themes of these meetings was to present how to reach young people and they wanted the workshop to be presented by young people. So, the national coordinator of Eurodesk in Sweden asked for 2 workshops on how to reach young people in general (aged 17–30) and how to improve the material about European Solidarity Corps (Quiz). They asked an Eurodesk ambassador, Amalia, and a French ESC-volunteer who works at Europe Direct Fyrbodal, Estelle. They worked together but Amalia focused more on general information on how to reach young people and Estelle on how to improve the material to present ESC.

The objectives:
The main aim of the workshop was to improve the material used to present the ESC, which consisted of a quiz. With this in mind, we had to find a creative way of presenting this information and include more participation from young people so that they would be more interested in the mobility program that they will contact us to have more information about European opportunity of mobility. Estelle decided to create a board game “Time to Travel” to present the ESC program.

Presentation of the game:
Players will be travelers who want to build the best suitcase to get the most points. To do this, they’ll have to travel to different European capitals to obtain the items by answering “mobility questions”, follow their travel plan or take up challenges.