„We Are Europe“
As part of our project „EU simulation games – democracy, Europe and compromises“, we introduced young people to the fundamentals of the European Union and enabled them to engage intensively with the workings and challenges of the EU. Over the course of the project, which spanned several months, the participants gained valuable insights into European decision-making processes through interactive simulation games and hands-on excursions.
At the start of the project there was a get-to-know-you event, where mentors and participants introduced themselves and the project goals as well as the schedule were discussed. Over four introductory days, the young people received a solid theoretical foundation on the topics of the history of the EU, its member states and the fundamentals of EU law. This formed the basis for the subsequent simulation games.
The simulation games themselves took a central place in the project and were carried out over four event blocks of five days each. The topics of the simulation games, including EU internal policy, asylum and refugee policy, the EU accession of countries such as the Western Balkans, as well as a topic developed by the participants themselves, enabled the young people to step into the role of decision-makers and to understand the complex political processes of the EU in a realistic way. The simulation games were not only conveyed as theory; rather, by taking on different roles and tasks, the participants developed an understanding of the diverse interests that must be taken into account in European decision-making processes.
Between the simulation game events, we undertook two exciting excursions to Brussels and Strasbourg. In Brussels we visited the EU Council and the EU Commission, while in Strasbourg the EU Parliament was on the programme. These excursions gave the young people a direct, practical connection to the content they had dealt with in the simulation games, and gave them the opportunity to exchange views with the real political actors.
The aim of the project was to strengthen the participants' understanding of democracy at the European level and to promote their ability to find compromises. By actively adopting different perspectives and engaging with the needs and interests of other nations, the young people learned how important a fair and respectful dialogue is in a multicultural and diverse union. We would like to warmly thank the Landschaftsverband Westfalen Lippe (LWL), whose funding made it possible for us to carry out this valuable project.
