The game, while remaining a game, can involve the world” said the Italian writer of fairy tales Gianni Rodari.
What if a game could save the world instead?
This is the challenge created by Future Citizens Game, the game created by MateraHub and Pot in Pot, as part of European Future Citizens, a European project that intends to promote sustainability and greater awareness of environmental community challenges.
The game was also born thanks to the help and collaboration of young people from Lucania aged 16 to 35 who participated in the co-creation meetings right from the start of the project.
On 19 and 20 June 2024 the second phase of the work took place: Citizenthon, the first official test of the game on the streets of the city of Matera.
I am one of these young people and I took part in the Italian Citizenthon.
But forgive me, I haven’t introduced myself yet: my name is Martina and I am a Citizen of the Future. Or rather, a Citizen of the Present who wants to contribute to build a true future for our Planet.
This is the reason why I decided to take part in the project and, with the second phase concluded, I can only confirm the enthusiasm that moved me from the beginning.
But let me tell you about our adventure.
A mission.
Two groups of guys walking around the city.
And a lot of sun. Because, let’s face it, no one likes easy challenges.
Our journey into the present/future begins just like this. The game introduces us
- Ecotopia
- Misinformia
- Solitaria
- Technotopia
four fictional civilizations from the past that became extinct respectively due to
- environmental crises
- disinformation
- fractured communities
- uncontrolled technological
Our goal is to learn from their mistakes and find concrete solutions for building our future.
To do this it is necessary to overcome tests, question ourselves and, above all, involve the people around us. How? Asking questions, proposing concrete actions and knowing their approach to safeguarding the planet, even with just small measures.
And this last one, for me, was the most beautiful and fun part of the game.
Crossing the border between ourselves and others is always very difficult and yet, once the first step has been taken, we discover a real world, in which the road is traveled together and the path is built slowly, step by step.
It’s wonderful to see how each of the people we involved (or bothered? We’ll never know) had a different and unexpected reaction. There were those who immediately approached us with enthusiasm, those with initial skepticism which then transformed into curiosity and the desire to know more. However, a real connection was created with everyone. With some born from the practical challenges that the game proposed, with others from the greater awareness of the future that gradually emerged during the mission, with still others from the stories and pieces of life that they themselves, by playing, gave us.
The topics covered were many and varied. The most relevant and those that had a greater effect on the people involved were the ecological footprint and the excessive daily impact that technology has on us.
They are broad and complex themes, but they have one thing in common: they are immediately silent but constant. Every day, our habits leave a mark on the Earth and, in the same way, the use of technology affects our psycho-physical well-being.
It all seems small and harmless, but the consequences are, in the long run, devastating. The scenario is not idyllic nevertheless it is reality
And this is where Citizenthon manages to “intervene”. Through a “simple” game, fun challenges and a sunny day with friends, it manages to make us more aware of the present and the ongoing social and community challenges. It leads us to roll up our sleeves and act, not moved by fear, but by an awareness that makes us concrete and united towards a single goal.
As Guardian of the Future I believe that the heart of this mission lies precisely in the end game: “draw lessons from failures, to build a new planet”.
So can a game save the world?
You will only discover it… by playing.
