ESC: Building an International Youth Community through Games

The Dragon Legion is a European role-playing network founded in Germany. The group members are interested in making intercultural learning experiences together, and in keeping their minds engaged on a high intellectual level. A few years ago they started getting involved in youth work, determined to offer younger people new and exciting ways of learning and shaping their personality. Activities include theater, improvisation events, and role-playing games. With their activities the group members have successfully offered a stark contrast to traditional youth work and have managed to get a large number of young people interested in social learning activities.
The Dragon Legion is a non-profit organization that regularly runs role-playing events for young people. The events are highly motivational and have a stealth learning effect on the participants. We often choose an interesting location in Europe and immerse ourselves in its history, mythology and culture, turning it into a game setting. All of the events focus on intercultural learning because players experience role-playing situations in mixed teams, and they are confronted with decisions that are based on fundamental value discussions. However, apart from the intercultural learning, the events teach and train a number of skills and knowledge, such as history, mythology, language skills, social skills, communication skills, craft skills or the skill to work in international teams. More importantly, we create international communities in which young people understand the importance and the opportunity of a unified Europe with close cooperation and collaboration. Participants of our events stay in touch after the events and keep communicating in an international network.
We have also managed to attract a lot of disadvantaged youth who feel safe and welcome in our open-minded and supportive community. In our experience role-playing is especially well-suited for those with social disadvantages who have become outsiders in their societies. Taking on a new role and connecting with other youths that share interests and encourage them seems to have a tremendous effect that lets these people bloom and changes their world completely.