On September 13, Kommunalwahlen will be held in the various municipalities of Lower Saxony.
To engage young people in Salzgitter with the topic of “local politics and democratic elections” in an exciting way, the Youth and Democracy Education Team from the Local Child and Youth Support Division of the city’s Children, Youth, and Family set up a walk-in escape room (interactive puzzle room) in the form of a three-by-three-meter pavilion. Here, the topic is presented in a youth-friendly way, featuring an exciting story titled “Save Democracy.” The goal is to get young people excited about local politics and upcoming elections in a playful way and to raise their awareness of these issues.
Schools and youth centers can borrow escape rooms
This is a free offer for schools and youth organizations in Salzgitter, which can rent the space for their programs. The room is provided complete with a pavilion and all other necessary materials. To keep the effort required of those borrowing the space to a minimum, they receive detailed game instructions containing all the important information about the escape room.
What do the young people experience here?
The escape room simulates an election in a playful way. Nine puzzles must be solved within 1 ½ hours.
Among other things, participants learn: When are you eligible to vote? Who is responsible for what? How does an election work? Just like in a commercial escape room, finding the right solution allows you, for example, to unlock a door so you can continue the game.
The teens aren’t left on their own to figure out the solutions—a supervisor also takes on a role in the game. In addition, participants receive extra help from “notebooks” containing all the puzzles in both easy and advanced versions.
The experience is rounded out by a subsequent reflection session. The appropriate materials and guiding questions for this can be found directly in the game instructions.
Schools and youth service organizations interested in the escape room can find more information at jugendunddemokratiebildungstadt.salzgitterde.