DemoHráč na dosah

<< Background >>The project DemoPlayer Within Reach (DemoHráč na dosah) responded to the need to develop young people’s democratic competences in an accessible and engaging way. It built on the successful DemoPlayer methodology based on experiential education and live-action role play (LARP), which was further innovated and adapted for different types of organisations and schools. The original two-day residential training format proved unsuitable for all settings, so the project developed new tools: a video methodology helping youth workers overcome fears of implementation, a web platform for sharing materials and experiences, and shortened programme versions tailored for schools with limited time.The project thus addressed three key needs – accessibility and inclusion, support and confidence for facilitators, and sustainability and dissemination. As a result, it delivered an innovative and long-term applicable model for civic and democratic education.<< Objectives >>The aim of the project DemoPlayer Within Reach (DemoHráč na dosah) was to expand and innovate the DemoPlayer methodology, which develops young people’s democratic competences through experiential education and live-action role play (LARP). The project sought to make the methodology an easily usable, accessible, and transferable tool for various types of organisations and schools in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.The main objectives of the project were to:equip youth workers and educators with the skills needed to independently lead the programme;create a video methodology and a web platform to facilitate easy use and sharing of materials;adapt and test the methodology for different time and organisational formats;strengthen cooperation between Czech and Slovak organisations and prepare the methodology for wider scaling;enable as many young people as possible to actively develop their civic engagement and democratic values.The project thus aimed not only to transfer knowledge but also to foster a lasting change in the approach to democratic education.<< Implementation >>The project DemoPlayer Within Reach (DemoHráč na dosah) was implemented in close Czech–Slovak cooperation between Prázdninová škola Lipnice and YouthWatch. It began with an initial online partner meeting where the project plan, roles, and timeline were set. This was followed by the development and filming of the video methodology, which captured key parts of the DemoPlayer programme and complemented the written methodology. In parallel, the methodology was adapted into more suitable format to meet the diverse needs of organizations.During the project, two multi-day trainings for youth workers, three online workshops, and a mentoring programme were held to help participants implement the methodology independently in their practice. Trainers and their teams then conducted pilot sessions with young people, during which the adapted methodology was tested and video examples were recorded.Finally, a comprehensive web platform was created containing all materials, videos, and a borrowing system for training equipment. The project concluded with an international partner meeting, where results were evaluated and plans for further dissemination were agreed upon.<< Results >>Within the project DemoPlayer Within Reach (DemoHráč na dosah), a fully functional video methodology was created, complementing the original written manual with practical demonstrations and enabling youth workers to deliver the programme independently and with confidence. A web platform was developed to provide open access to all materials, videos, methodological texts, and tools for sharing experiences or borrowing equipment. The methodology was adapted and tested in the more suitable format according to the real needs of participating organisations.The project engaged more organisations and participants than originally planned, and the methodology attracted significant interest beyond the project partnership. The programme continues to spread across the Czech Republic and Slovakia and has become a stable part of the partners’ educational portfolios. Its viability and sustainability were clearly demonstrated – for example, through the regular implementation of DemoPlayer at Prague Castle for the Office of the President of the Czech Republic. The project thus delivered tangible results, a strong societal impact, and strengthened the overall quality of education in democratic competences.