Game ON

<< Background >>The project was initiated in response to the growing interest among young people, both male and female, in e-sports. Reports indicate that 54% of the European population aged 6-64 engage in video gaming, with 74% of players falling within the 15-24 age range. Although many video games have significant learning potential, this learning often occurs unconsciously, with players not recognising or reflecting on the knowledge and skills they acquire while gaming. The project builds upon and draws inspiration from the feedback received from youth workers across Europe who participated in a training course organised by Fora on the same theme in 2019. The project addressed the partners' needs to strengthen young people's competences and active learning, innovate their educational approaches by leveraging young people's interest in gaming, enhance their capacity to utilise video games in an educational context, and extend their reach to hard-to-reach youth.<< Objectives >>The project aimed to harness young people's existing interest in video games and transform it into intentional learning by enhancing the capacity of youth workers to support young people in developing essential competencies by gaming. The following objectives were identified to contribute to the project aim: - To develop at least 20 non-formal methods using video games as a tool for learning;- To fight against stereotypes regarding video games and help youth workers realise the potential in using them in their work with young people;- To empower 155 youth workers and other stakeholders to use video games as a tool for learning. << Implementation >>The project implemented the following activities:1.Conducted three transnational meetings and four online project meetings.2.Researched young people’s motivations for playing video games, exploring both intentional and incidental learning, as well as their connections to real-life scenarios.3.Developed 20 educational methods collaboratively, based on 18 popular video games among youth.4.Tested the development methods with young people aged 14 to 21. 5.Trained 24 youth workers from partner organisations on how to effectively use the developed methods and video games in their activities with young people.6.Organised Multiplier Events to disseminate project results among stakeholders at both local and national levels.7.Carried out broader dissemination activities to reach a wide audience of stakeholders, promoting the project results and encouraging their practical application.<< Results >>The project concrete outputs and results are:1. A Toolkit available as an open educational resource containing 20 educational methods using video games a learning tool. 2. 208 young people aged 14 to 21 (with a few over 21) involved research and testing phases of the method development;3. 24 youth workers trained to use the methods developed in their educational programmes with young people;4. 210 stakeholders reached through Multiplier Events fostering understanding on the potential of video games as an educational tool and raising awareness on the project results;5. 1899 stakeholders reached through dissemination activities (not counting social media);6. New cooperation between the partners and stakeholder emerged at local level;7. Strengthen organisational capacity of the partners in the projects and an extended reach to young people through innovative educational approaches.