You have some information about Cosmo. However, you will need more information to be able to continue the game.
Develop Cosmo’s character by using a mind map.
List, write and, if needed, draw information about Cosmo on the map:
What kind of information do you think is missing about Cosmo? For example, where does s/he live? How old is s/he? How does s/he live? Who are the other people in Cosmo’s life? In other words, give her/him more substance.
Once you have completed exercise 1, you can move on to exercise 2.
Examine the below list of character traits, too. Select traits that you think Cosmo will need to achieve her/his dreams and to overcome her/his challenges. Select at least two traits that you think will support Cosmo’s journey.
creative
calm
tense
funny
curious
enthusiastic
hardworking
energetic
empathetic
decisive
trustworthy
sensitive
dreamy
lively
vain
responsible
understanding
easy-going
reflective
positive
spirited
suspicious
vivacious
talkative
unsure
Once you have discussed dreams and selected Cosmo’s traits, s/he is ready to start her/his journey and exercise 3.
Next Cosmo has to face some challenges in her/his everyday life. Your task is to help Cosmo overcome the challenges as well as possible.
Cosmo is looking for work. S/he is interested in a job and s/he is required to submit a video CV as a part of the job application. Cosmo finds it difficult to express her/himself. S/he finds making the video CV insurmountably difficult.
1. Familiarise yourselves as a team with the following value of the Youth Strategy:
#7 Quality employment for all
Background: Young people are suffering from high youth unemployment, precarious and exploitative working conditions as well as discrimination in the labour market and the workplace. The lack of information and suitable skills for future employment are preventing young people to be fully integrated in the labour market. Thus, measures need to be taken in order to ensure quality employment for all.
Goal: To guarantee an accessible labour market with opportunities that lead to quality jobs for all young people.
2. Plan and film a short video CV with your smart phone in which Cosmo presents her/himself well despite her/his challenges. One of the team will play Cosmo. You selected some traits for her/him in the previous exercise. They may become useful in this exercise.
You may have use for the video CV at a later stage of the game.
Once you have tackled exercise 3, you can move on to exercise 4.
There are still things to do before achieving the dream.
Cosmo spends some time in social media. S/he likes to read posts about castles, among other things. S/he also likes to comment other people’s posts. However, people sometimes make nasty comments about her/his texts and posts. Now Cosmo would like to post a current news item in Twitter and tweet her/his own opinion about it.
1. Familiarise yourselves as a team with the following value of the Youth Strategy:
#4 Information and constructive dialogue
Background: Young people experience difficulties to verify the accuracy and reliability of information. They need to be more adequately equipped to navigate the media landscape and to participate in constructive dialogue.
Goal: To ensure young people have better access to reliable information, support their ability to evaluate information critically and engage in participatory and constructive dialogue.
2. Think what the news item that Cosmo wants to share is and how s/he wants to comment on it.
Think how s/he should present the issue on Twitter.
Discuss what kinds of tweets Cosmo has posted earlier and what kinds of tweets it would be better to post in the future.
What kinds of posts have made people make nasty comments?
How could Cosmo improve her/his own social media skills?
After completing exercise 4, you can move on to exercise 5 or the wild card exercise.
If you have the time, you can do the wild card exercise instead of this one.
Cosmo has now overcome her/his challenges and is heading to the future and her/his dreams. Your journey with Cosmo is nearing its end.
The value #11 Youth organisations and European programmes of the EU Youth Strategy focuses on the significance of European youth organisations and programmes in building the European society and providing opportunities for the future of young people. European programmes include programmes such as the Erasmus+: Youth and the European Solidarity Corps.
How does Cosmo’s life continue from now on?
What advice would you give Cosmo on her/his journey?
How do you feel about Cosmo’s chances on her/his journey?
Could Cosmo benefit from the Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps programmes?
If you wish, you could have a look at what the programmes cover.
Be prepared to give a 1-minute elevator pitch to present Cosmo and her/his journey to the other participants.
So, there is only one minute to give the presentation.
Do this exercise after exercise 4, if you have the time.
If you choose the wild card exercise, you don’t need to do exercise 5.
Cosmo has been doing great and her/his journey towards her/his dreams has become clearer! You are almost done! Is there still something else you could offer Cosmo to help her/him get closer to her/his dreams or to make them more achievable?
The value #11 Youth organisations and European programmes of the EU Youth Strategy focuses on the significance of European youth organisations and programmes in building the European society and providing opportunities for the future of young people. European programmes include programmes such as the Erasmus+: Youth and the European Solidarity Corps.
The wild card exercise allows you 5 minutes to plan a project that would offer Cosmo opportunities on her/his path towards her/his dreams.
The project can offer Cosmo something new, too.
Choose one of your first ideas and be brave developing your project.
Be prepared to give a 1-minute elevator pitch to present Cosmo and your project to the other teams.
So, there is only one minute to give the presentation.
After the exercise, teams come together to present their projects. All teams will comment on each other’s projects.
