Board games, youth work and democracy: PLAYCRACY training in Romania
Between 27–29 April 2026, Dracon Rules Design Studio joined the partners of the Erasmus+ project PLAYCRACY – Game-based approaches for strengthening youth participation in democracy in Arad, Romania, for the International Training for Youth Workers.
Hosted by Share Education, the training brought together the project partners from Romania, Greece, and Portugal to continue the work started during the first international activity in Portimão. This time, the focus moved from brainstorming ideas to testing methods, exploring facilitation techniques, and preparing youth workers to use board games as practical tools for democracy education.
For three days, participants worked together on how game-based learning can support civic engagement, critical thinking, decision-making, communication, and cooperation among young people. The training created a space where youth workers could experience the methods directly, discuss how games can open conversations around democratic participation, and reflect on how these tools can be adapted to different youth groups and local realities.
A key part of the activity was the exploration of board games as more than entertainment. Around the game table, participants looked at how play can become a safe and interactive space for young people to express opinions, negotiate, listen to others, make decisions, and understand the consequences of their choices. In this way, games become a bridge between abstract democratic concepts and real-life participation.
During the training, partners worked on several important topics, including:
🎯 how to use board games in youth work
🎲 how to adapt games for democracy education
💬 facilitation methods for civic dialogue
🧠 critical thinking and decision-making through play
🤝 teamwork, reflection, and preparation for local activities
For Dracon Rules Design Studio, the activity was strongly connected to our mission of promoting board games as educational and social tools. Through our experience in game design, playtesting, and non-formal education, we contributed to discussions on how games can be adapted, simplified, and facilitated in ways that make civic learning more engaging and accessible for young people.
PLAYCRACY aims to make democracy education less “sit and listen” and more “play, discuss, decide, and act.” Through board games, teamwork, and non-formal learning, the project supports youth workers in creating inclusive spaces where young people can build confidence, develop democratic skills, and feel more prepared to participate in their communities.
The training in Arad also marked an important step toward the next phase of the project: local activities with young people. After testing methods and exchanging ideas during the training, youth workers will bring the PLAYCRACY approach into their own communities, using games to encourage dialogue, participation, and active citizenship.
A big thank you goes to our hosts, Share Education, and to all partners for the energy, collaboration, and ideas shared during these training days.
Next step: taking the games from the training room to young people in local communities.
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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency for Community Programs in the Field of Education and Vocational Training (ANPCDEFP). Neither the European Union nor ANPCDEFP can be held responsible for them.
Project reference: 2025-1-RO01-KA210-YOU-000358042
