Learning Through Cooperation: Testing the “Cooperation Code” Escape Room in Bulgaria

2026-06-17 14:06

Can a game help people better understand teamwork, communication, and trust?

As part of the Erasmus+ project “InnovatorsLab: Gen Z’s Game-Based Peacebuilding,” a group of 20 participants took part in the educational escape room “The Cooperation Code”, one of the innovative tools developed within the project organized by Alternativi International team. 

The activity challenged participants to work together, solve interconnected tasks, share information effectively, and make collective decisions under time pressure. Throughout the game, participants quickly discovered that success depended not on individual performance, but on communication, active listening, and cooperation.

Following the escape room experience, participants joined a structured debriefing session where they reflected on their behaviours, communication styles, leadership roles, and the importance of trust when facing challenges as a team.

The activity demonstrated how game-based learning can transform important peacebuilding concepts into engaging and memorable experiences. By placing participants in situations that require collaboration and mutual support, “The Cooperation Code” encourages the development of key competences such as empathy, teamwork, problem-solving, and conflict-sensitive communication.

The positive feedback received during the session continues to support the further development and refinement of the InnovatorsLab educational tools, helping make peacebuilding more interactive, practical, and relevant for young people and adult learners alike.