EUTEAM Virtual Exchange: Over 510 young people in Slovakia reached through gamified learning and civic engagement

EUTEAM Virtual Exchange: Over 510 young people in Slovakia reached through gamified learning and civic engagement

Over the past few months, ADEL Slovakia has implemented a youth engagement initiative under the European project “EUTEAM Virtual Exchange”, aimed at empowering young people from across Slovakia through innovative, interactive education. The project’s mission was simple yet ambitious: to help youth who feel “a bit lost” in today’s world find connection, confidence, and purpose—by rethinking how they relate to themselves, their communities, and the future.

Gamification and critical conversations
The project focused on key educational themes such as active citizenship, diversity and multiculturalism, digital literacy, and critical thinking. These themes were brought to life through interactive sessions, discussions, and digital tools that engaged participants in hands-on learning.

A highlight of the sessions was the use of BadNews.com, an award-winning simulation game that teaches participants how misinformation spreads and how to identify and resist manipulation online. This, combined with guided reflection and peer exchange, allowed students to critically engage with real-world issues in an accessible and empowering way.

A series of more than 27 interactive online sessions reached nearly 520 students, offering them a rich and diverse learning experience that covered the full thematic scope of the project.

From Ulíč to Bratislava: truly national reach
One of the project’s greatest strengths was its broad national scope, successfully engaging young people from every corner of Slovakia—across both rural communities and urban centres. Participants joined from remote and often underserved areas such as Ulíč, Sobrance, Košická Belá, Bánov, Dolný Kubín, Lendak, Svidník, Sliač, Krompachy, Detva, and Michalovce, as well as from highly urbanised cities including Bratislava,
Žilina, Nitra, and Trnava.

The project involved students aged 14 to 22, covering a wide age range that included primary and secondary school students, as well as university youth—most notably from Comenius University in Bratislava. Many sessions were delivered in cooperation with high schools and primary schools, allowing for deep integration into existing educational environments and ensuring accessibility for a diverse group of learners.

This wide regional and institutional representation fostered a powerful sense of inclusion and collective learning. Young people from varied socio-economic and geographic backgrounds shared perspectives, voiced concerns, and co-created ideas. The project thus became a space of connection across differences, helping participants realise that—despite coming from different places—they face many of the same challenges, hopes, and opportunities.

Turning learning into action 
The EUTeam Virtual Exchange wasn’t only about gaining knowledge—it was about applying it. Young participants were invited to develop their own “action plans”—small-scale civic initiatives for improving their schools, towns, or local communities. These plans became a tangible outcome of their learning, linking their personal reflections with real-world change.

Many of these plans addressed topics such as local youth participation, combating online hate, promoting inclusion, or environmental sustainability—tailored to the needs identified directly by the youth in their environments.

Creating a culture of civic hope in youth
At its core, the EUTeam Virtual Exchange aimed to cultivate hope and active engagement. Many participants entered the program with questions about their place in society or concerns about their future. Through gamified learning, group discussion, and collaborative projects, they left with a sense of agency and a deeper connection to civic life. The project not only offered knowledge, but also a safe and supportive space for young people to grow, challenge themselves, and begin seeing themselves as active shapers of their surroundings.

Final word
We are incredibly proud of the impact the EUTEAM Virtual Exchange has had—not just in the numbers, but in the authentic stories, voices, and ideas it helped surface. From the rural East to the urban West, young people across Slovakia showed a genuine readiness to engage with the world around them, take initiative, and shape the future they want to live in.

A special thank you goes to project coordinator Alexandra Špaková, whose dedication and leadership were instrumental in reaching and educating hundreds of students across the country. Her ability to connect with youth, inspire trust, and create inclusive learning spaces was essential to the success of the entire initiative.

This project served as a powerful reminder: when young people are given the tools, space, and support to grow, they rise to the challenge—not only as learners, but as leaders.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.