Challenge: Wildcard – Propose tech solutions contributing to a breakthrough in intergenerational problems.

Surplus Welzijn – “A new (virtual) reality for Youth work: beyond gaming for fun in applying VR in youth work”.

Aiming to propose a tech solution that would diminish intergenerational problems, Surplus Welzijn has developed a solution where Virtual Reality (VR) is integrated into youth work. By engaging young people as co-creators, the pilot designed two gamified tools – “Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes” and “Wander” – able to strengthen communication skills and foster the participants’ personal development and empowerment. The first aims to help young people set and track personal development goals, while enhancing teamwork and problem-solving skills. The latest game consisted of a social mapping tool that allowed participants to create 360-degree virtual tours of places significant to their lives, facilitating discussions about identity, community, and personal experiences.

Hosting 13 co-creation meetings with VR specialists and 33 interactive sessions with young people ensured the VR tools’ practical application in youth work settings, which enhanced their effectiveness. Additionally, the young people who participated in the co-creation expressed their desire to continue working with it.