We talk a lot about climate change, sustainability, and protecting the planet. But caring about these topics is not always easy. Many young people hear about environmental issues every day, yet they often feel distant from them. The problems seem too big, too abstract, or simply disconnected from daily life.
At the same time, many young people spend less time outdoors than previous generations. Nature becomes something we talk about rather than something we experience. This growing distance is sometimes called the “nature deficit”. When you do not feel connected to nature, it is harder to feel responsible for it.
So the question is simple. How can we help young people reconnect with environmental issues in a way that feels real, accessible, and engaging?
This is where the Save&Play project comes in.
Save&Play is a European Erasmus+ project that explores how play and games can be used to talk about sustainability differently. Instead of long explanations or abstract concepts, the project uses interactive experiences to invite young people to explore environmental topics through action, curiosity, and collaboration.
Games have a special power. They create involvement without pressure. They allow people to experiment, to try, to fail, and to learn without feeling judged. When young people play together, they discuss, negotiate, and solve problems. Learning happens almost without noticing it.
Save&Play focuses particularly on young people who are often left aside by traditional educational approaches, such as NEET youth (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and young people with specific learning difficulties. For many of them, classic classroom methods do not work well. Play-based and experiential approaches can open other doors.
Throughout the project, partners from several European countries will develop interactive escape games linked to sustainability. Some of these games will be designed by experts, while others will be created together with young people themselves. The idea is not only to play games, but also to give young people the chance to imagine, design, and share their own solutions.
The project also supports youth workers. Save&Play will offer practical materials and an online course to help professionals use games and playful methods in their own activities. No technical background is required. The goal is to make these tools easy to use and adaptable to different contexts.
Save&Play does not claim that a game can solve environmental challenges on its own. But it starts from a simple belief. Caring often begins with feeling involved. And involvement grows when learning is concrete, shared, and meaningful.
Sometimes, playing together can be the first step towards thinking differently about the world around us.
