Official launch of the Strategic Project EU PLAYER in Stuttgart
Between 17–20 February 2025, the official kick-off meeting of the strategic project EU PLAYER took place in Stuttgart, Germany, marking the beginning of a European initiative dedicated to strengthening young people’s connection to the values of the European Union through innovative educational methods. The event brought together partner organisations from six European countries to establish the implementation framework, activity timeline, and cooperation mechanisms for the next three years.
Romania is represented in the consortium by Nevo Parudimos, alongside partner organisations from Ireland, Austria, Italy, and Greece, under the coordination of YES Forum, the project leader.
The EU PLAYER project aims to increase awareness and strengthen the sense of belonging of young people aged 13–20 to the European Union by using an innovative game-based learning and gamification approach. The initiative seeks to combat Euroscepticism and transform participants from “EU Players” into “EU Ambassadors” – informed, engaged young leaders who actively promote European values within their communities.
Implemented between 01.12.2024 – 30.11.2027 , the project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme, Strategic Partnerships in the field of Youth. Key activities and outputs include the development of an educational board game about the EU (1,500 copies), the creation of a multilingual handbook on game-based learning and gamification, the organisation of an international training course for at least 200 teachers and youth workers, the implementation of workshops in more than 1,000 classrooms and youth centres, an online hackathon involving 50 participants, and a summer camp for the top 20 players who will become EU Ambassadors. In addition, a digital version of the game will be developed and promoted online, ensuring sustainability and facilitating the transition from analogue to digital learning.
By engaging more than 10,000 young people from six countries, EU PLAYER aims to enhance knowledge about the European Union, improve its perception among youth and educators, and foster active participation in European democratic life. The next stages of the project will include interactive activities, training sessions, and youth-focused events implemented at both local and international levels.