This project has aimed to reinforce links between policy, research and practice for youth. Therefore, youth work practitioners, educators, or other professionals working with young people from YES Forum and Erasmus Student Network (ESN), explored “political simulation games”. A political simulation game can be a powerful tool designed to involve youngsters in “make-believe” politics to teach them the functioning of political institutions, while promoting their civic participation. The involved partner organisations, ESN (international university students/staff) and YES Forum (youth with vulnerable backgrounds/youth workers), cater to the needs of very diverse groups. Peer-learning in such a heterogenous group leads to discussions opening more perspectives, which creates more understanding/sympathy for people and their views on certain issues. The project is also beneficial for participating youth work practitioners/educators, because preparing for the project and performing the project would provide them with skills and knowledge on diversity and learning across social ‘bubbles’. Consequently, this would lead to enrichment of diversity concepts and developing (new) tools and methods to work with heterogenous groups.
This project addresses the following problems and needs in society: Firstly, active citizenship has become yet another area of exclusion, especially for young people with vulnerable backgrounds. There are several variables that correlate with (political) participation; income level, educational level, political knowledge, political efficacy, political interest, political trust, and earlier political participation. Young people from difficult backgrounds often have parents with a lower income, get a lower education and will have people in their surroundings that are not well-schooled in politics, distrust politicians, and do not have positive experiences with political participation. Also, peers play a critical role in the political socialization of young people, providing information and resources outside their immediate circles and introducing them to diverse ideas. Engaging in political discussions with peers from different backgrounds may encourage young people to rethink their positions and to learn from each other.