Prison and gamification
The project "Until We Are All Free" is not the first project in which our activists visit prisons and conduct classes. Our activists organized valuable and educational activities at Liepāja Prison, which lasted from June 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025. The main goal of this project was to create a safer, more inclusive and smarter society through the resocialization of young people in prison and the provision of support through educational activities in prison and outside. Sergejs was one of the project participants who wanted to share his experience of leading board game classes and volunteering in prison.
"Before this project, I had the opportunity to work in a boarding school with young people from risk groups. In my practice, I tried to teach various subjects, such as mathematics, physics, and languages, using gamification or a playful approach as the main tool. I participated in the project with the idea that I would like to try the same thing in my hometown of Liepāja. I tried not to set my expectations too high, but it was difficult. I expected some resistance or a closed attitude towards the methods I planned to introduce in board games. I wanted to use them to promote a new hobby and a healthy way of socializing. At the same time, I also wanted to teach simple practical skills, such as problem solving, planning, and resource management.
When I first entered Liepāja Prison, I felt very uncomfortable. To get to the classroom where we could play board games, I had to walk through corridors lined with bars and metal doors connecting the rooms. We had prepared several introductory games, such as CATAN. That was also the first game that got me interested in the world of board games. I hoped that they would find it interesting too. When the group arrived — about 10 people — I introduced myself and then the game itself. At first, they didnt understand the rules. I was nervous because I thought I might not have explained it well, but my group was interested and wanted to understand. While playing CATAN, we often had interesting interactions and curious game situations that made us laugh. As the game progressed, the atmosphere became more and more lively. I was very pleased with this success. I couldn't wait for the next day when I could go back to the prison and lead the classes. Each time we tried new games, gradually increasing their complexity. If we had had more than three hours to play, I think we could have played even very complex games. At the end of the project, I had formed a stable core group that wanted to continue playing board games even after the project ended. We are currently working on this possibility.
While leading board game activities in prison, I saw many beautiful things. I saw grown men awakening their inner child, and I saw that even in a place like prison, compassion and the desire to help others still exist. I noticed how people shared strategies and helped each other win. It was amazing! Some inmates took the initiative and explained the rules to newcomers. Overall, the atmosphere was always positive. I feel that all the time I spent as a volunteer in prison, sharing my enthusiasm with others, was very valuable. And the small amount of energy and time I spent in prison left a small but noticeable impact. If I had to describe my entire experience of leading board game sessions, I would sum it up in one word: BEAUTIFUL!
“Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, European Commission or Latvian National Agency for International Programs for Youth. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”