Article by Andrea Rodriguez, Ripess Europe
The final week of November marked the International Seminar in Athens titled May the Change Be With You. Hosted at the Impact Hub Athens, the seminar brought together over thirty participants, including young individuals interested in Transformative Economies, professionals engaged in the Social and Solidarity Economy, educators and representatives from various organizations. The primary focus was to explore and promote workshops centered around our board game, The Change.
Over the two days of the seminar, we delved into the concept of Transformative Economies and emphasized the urgent need to reclaim the true essence of “Economy” from the grip of neoliberal ideology. Participants collaborated to envision their ideal communities—neighborhoods thriving with cooperatives managing key aspects of life. Networks of mutual support and care emerged as the core themes around which such communities should be structured.
During the seminar, we also introduced the project manual, a resource designed to empower anyone interested in facilitating workshops using The Change. In addition, we unveiled the multimedia map of transformative economies, where initiatives from the different countries involved in the project have been compiled. This map serves as a tool to connect people with real examples of alternative economies that are already underway.
Attendees heard firsthand accounts from young people involved in local groups across the participating countries, who are the true architects of the game. These young innovators played a pivotal role in conceptualizing and creating The Change.
The highlight of the event was playing The Change, a board game now available in six languages and featuring both an expert and a junior version.
Playing a game is an intentional and immersive process that engages individuals holistically. It creates a simulated “as-if” reality, enabling players to form hypotheses and experiment within a safe and supportive environment. This framework allows participants to make mistakes with consequences confined to the game, fostering the development of skills such as adaptability, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, teamwork, and relationship building.
Through The Change, players are introduced to real-world Transformative Economies initiatives, discovering that alternative economic systems are not only possible but also actionable. The game encourages players to connect with their local realities through a transnational lens, inspiring them to implement small or significant changes in their daily habits and routines.
Lastly, playing The Change within both formal and non-formal learning settings provides an inclusive and enriching experience for young people. To ensure the effectiveness of such educational activities, it is crucial to uphold key principles that benefit both the group and individual participants.
The seminar proved to be an inspiring and enriching experience where participants learned a great deal from one another. While January marks the official closing date of the project, the work does not end here. We plan to host an international webinar to present The Change and share the project’s outcomes with the global community. Transformative Economies are an ongoing journey, and we look forward to building on this momentum.
For more information: Official project webpage, Ripess project page
May the Change Be With You!
