Culture Crossover

Background The created game is a response to the very scarcity of educational materials to develop young people's intercultural competences. Virtually no free tools are available to combine learning with other processes, i.e. communication, cooperation, leadership and conflict resolution. Based on the latest approaches to intercultural learning, the game avoids stereotyping and memorising a list of does and don’ts during a meeting with another culture, allowing us to understand the other person's intentions and not just their behavior. At the same time, the project responds to the need to reformulate the approach to intercultural education and to promote activities that support the development of ethnorelativism, which was a recommendation of the European Commission and the Council of Europe. Objectives The aim of the Culture Crossover project is to increase interest in the development of intercultural competences of youth workers and young people themselves, including young people with migration and/or refugee background, through the development of a hybrid game, accompanied by a script for intercultural communication workshops to understand the different cultures present in the EU countries. The project was implemented by a partnership of organisations and companies from Poland, Germany, Greece, Italy and Portugal. Implementation In the frame of the project there were Youth Testing Group meetings organised. It was the advisory and feedback body for the game developing. Meetings of the group were held online in the period May 2021-June 2022. At the meetings, young people performed tasks and talked about values, cultural dimensions, empathy, and developing intercultural sensitivity. Throughout the implementation of the project, they also gave their feedback on various elements of the game, which were changed and improved. An international youth exchange took place with 25 participants. An essential part of the youth exchange was the testing of the game, and the young people proposed several ideas for changes to the game, adding various elements to make it more attractive and dynamic. Another activity was an international training course for youth workers on intercultural communication and the use of the game in youth work. In addition, local testing workshops and events to disseminate the project results took place. Achievements The project developed the hybrid game 'Culture Crossover' as a tool to be used by educators and trainers in formal and non-formal education, but it can also be used by anyone interested in developing intercultural competences. The game is based on the theory of the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity and the theory of Cultural Dimensions. It takes the form of a journey through different countries with the aim of reaching the finish line as quickly as possible. A manual has also been produced to support trainers and educators in their work in the field of intercultural education using the game. It is a kind of knowledge pill that can be helpful in designing and conducting training and lessons.