The objectives of the project were to collect and promote traditions, customs, rituals, and crafts from both Bulgaria and Türkiye, and to present them to young people in the form of a board game, which would be digitalised to reach a wider audience. In this way, the project aimed to foster cultural impact, support cultural preservation, improve accessibility, and promote education. A key objective was to deliver knowledge about traditions through a new and interactive method that would facilitate the dissemination of the project results. Additional goals included engaging with people from marginalised groups—such as those of different ethnic backgrounds, individuals facing social and economic difficulties, and people from remote geographical areas—by encouraging them to share their knowledge, build a sense of community, and feel included through cultural belonging. The project also aimed to help them strengthen their social and communication skills, boost their confidence, and develop empathy. Through this approach, we successfully met our objective of involving people from marginalised groups and addressed the Erasmus+ programme priority of "Inclusion and Diversity".
We developed the project proposal with the aim of building a bridge between young people—including those from marginalised groups—and the cultural heritage of Bulgaria and Türkiye. In the context of increasing globalisation and digitalisation, it became necessary to seek modern and accessible ways to preserve and transmit traditions. The response to this need was the development of the Digital Roots board game and its presentation in digital format. The project addressed real challenges: the growing detachment of youth from their cultural roots and the social and geographic isolation of tradition bearers living in smaller and remote areas due to urbanisation. Many of these individuals belong to ethnic minorities and vulnerable communities. While they have preserved knowledge of their cultural heritage, they often remain excluded due to discriminatory practices and their geographic location. By involving them in the process of creating and sharing traditional knowledge, the project created opportunities for inclusion, cultural pride, and intercultural exchange. Participants developed not only a deeper understanding of culture but also a stronger sense of belonging, confidence, and empathy.