Democracy XP: Rule the Game, Not the People

Do you believe in the power of play to change minds?

Are you passionate about democracy and looking for a creative way to take action?

Do you want to create something that outlasts the training room and reaches young people beyond your own circles?

Don't stop here! IYNF's Democracy XP: Rule the Game, Not the People is calling your name!

As a participant of our training, you will:

get to grips with gamification as a non-formal education approach

create your own educational democracy game from scratch

test and refine your game through rounds of peer feedback

develop a workshop and curriculum so your game can be used by others

Tell me more?

Democracy XP is the third and final training of our Democracy Re:Boot cycle, bringing together everything explored during Democracy Lab and Democracy Hacks. This time, the focus is entirely practical: you will design, test, and finalise a card-based democracy game from start to finish. If you joined one of the previous activities, this is where your learning comes to life. If you are joining for the first time, welcome to the final chapter!

Over a packed week in Cecina, Italy, you will work in groups guided by expert trainers, moving through design, testing, and fine-tuning until your game is ready. Along the way, you will build practical skills in gamification, game design, and creative facilitation, and develop a deeper understanding of how play can be a tool for democratic engagement. You will also put together a curriculum and promotion plan so your game can reach young people beyond the activity. The finalised card game designs will then be printed and made available for young people and their organisations to use and share freely after the activity.

Where and When?

Gran Pino, Cecina, Italy
September 21st to 27th, 2026

How much does it cost?

50 EUR for members/ 75 EUR for non-members (please let us know if this is an economic constraint)
Includes the training, accommodation, plant-based meals, and green travel reimbursement

Who can join?

16 to 30 years old
Have a good understanding of English
Be a resident or national of the following EU or neighbouring countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey
Not part of Erasmus, Erasmus+, or a European Solidarity Corps programme at the time of the training

Travel requirements

One of our fundamental values at IYNF is sustainability, which we aim to instill in all our activities. IYNF requires sustainable transportation to the activity (bike, train, bus). Just in, duly justified cases, non-sustainable travels (e.g. planes) are permitted.
Please notice false information about your willingness to travel sustainably might lead to exclusion from the activity

Apply by July 6th, 23:59 CET!

Apply now

FAQ

Curious about how you can take part?

Here you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions about our activities.

I have a question - what shall I do?

Please read the call for participants and the FAQ carefully to check if your question hasn’t been answered there. We understand that the rules of participation are complex; however, we don’t have the capacity to repeat information that is publicly available and writing us an additional email will not increase your chances of being selected. Questions related to travel arrangements, participation fees and other organisational issues are sorted with the selected participants, and we don’t answer them before the selection process is finalised. If your question goes beyond the above-mentioned and you have specific personal concerns about your application, please drop us an email.

Does sending an additional application email help me to get in after filling in the form?

No. We are just looking at the forms, so additional emails expressing strong wishes for participation will not be considered. We usually receive many emails, and we don’t have the capacity to reply to all of them. Above all, we strive for a fair selection process and trying to gain advantage by any means beyond those mentioned in the call for participants is not viewed positively. The form gives you all the space you need to provide us with the information relevant to your application, so please use it to the full extent.

I cannot pay the full participation fee - can I still participate?

Yes, absolutely, we believe that financial constraints shouldn’t hinder participation in educational activities. In case you are facing any financial constraints, you can contact us after you are selected, and we will find an individual solution for your situation. We believe in solidarity and therefore find a tailored solution together with you. Please do not write to us about this beforehand via mail as we only find solutions with people selected, and the financial capacity of individuals doesn’t play any role in the selection process.

I want to apply as a country national, but I live somewhere else - can I take part?

If you live in a country that is listed among the eligible countries, please apply and mention your nationality and your place of residence in your application. Please be aware that proof of long-term residency might be a condition to your participation as it is a requirement of our donors.

If you live in a country that isn’t listed among the eligible countries, IYNF cannot accept your participation. Selecting a different country than your nationality or residence is considered as a false information and will result in excluding your application.

I’m resident in a country listed, but my nationality is different - can I take part?

Yes, but you will need to submit a proof of long-term residency to us to fulfil the requirements of our donors. Please be aware that by applying you are also confirming that your long-term stay isn’t funded from the same resources as our activities. Double funding isn’t allowed. For example, Erasmus+ students or ESC volunteers are excluded from participating in the short term educational mobilities funded by the European Commission during the duration of their activity.

Do I have to travel sustainably?

As IYNF strives to reduce its own environmental footprint, your willingness to travel sustainably can be part of the selection process. We strongly recommend investigating your sustainable travel options before applying and reading the conditions in the IYNF travel policy. Sustainable travels are not required in case of justified special needs, or in case of destinations that are very hard to reach other than by plane, but IYNFs' limits are stricter than what is considered standard. We won’t allow flights to meet your personal plans that collide with the activity travel days. Committing to sustainable travel in the application and demanding a flight later in the process might lead to cancelation of your participation.

In case I’m selected, I want to I prolong my stay or take breaks during travelling – am I allowed to do that?

It depends. The educational travel grants strictly exclude funding of activities of touristic nature. If you must prolong your stay because of limited transportation options or if you want to take a one-day break to ease your long sustainable travels, please talk to the project manager about the options once selected. IYNF will try to make your travels as safe and comfortable as possible.

If you decide to arrive to the destination earlier or leave later, you might not be eligible for travel reimbursement. Please always consult your travel plans with the project manager prior booking. Any prolongations of your stay above 2 days aren’t allowed to be funded by the grants and will result in partial or full cuts of your travel reimbursement. You may still proceed with your plans, but you will be required to (co)fund your trip. Detours combined with breaks aren’t allowed. Accommodation costs during your trip aren’t covered by IYNF unless they are proposed by the project manager due to no better sustainable or economically reasonable option to reach the destination.

I have a disability – can I participate?

This project is kindly funded by:

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