Another hackathon project dealt with the question of how young people aged 13 to 17 from the border triangle of Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic can get in better contact with each other and be sensitized to topics such as democracy, politics and cultural understanding in a playful way - without it feeling like traditional educational work to them.
The aim is to promote interaction between young people from the three countries, overcome language barriers and raise awareness of common interests. The aim is to reduce the potential for conflict, promote mutual understanding and make democratic ways of thinking and finding solutions tangible. The basis for this is a multi-part digital platform, the central elements of which consist of an interactive mobile game, a digital conflict resolution tool, creative language learning opportunities and a regional chat module.
The mobile game teaches regional knowledge about the three countries - from simple questions about flags or distances to more complex tasks about literature or history. Depending on the level, cooperation with peers from another country is required to solve challenges. Using a shared whiteboard tool, real-life conflict situations can be discussed and creative solutions developed - based on different perspectives and cultural backgrounds.
The platform also offers simple, humorous language learning opportunities, short stories with hidden messages and a moderated chat - with an automatic translation function - to enable safe, multilingual communication. Final youth camps are held twice a year, bringing all the elements of the platform together in real life - under a unifying theme such as music, which knows no borders.
The platform is aimed directly at young people and is promoted via social media such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. Before launch, it is tested together with educators and contains protective mechanisms against inappropriate behavior. The focus is not on competition, but on learning and experiencing together - an approach that is more necessary than ever in today's complex reality.
