DEGSE (Digital Escape Rooms for Social Entrepreneurship) is an Erasmus+ project that brings together the power of storytelling, game-based learning, and digital innovation to inspire young people to think and act like social entrepreneurs.

In a world facing urgent and complex challenges such as climate change, inequality, mental health crises, and social fragmentation, young people are not only deeply affected but also uniquely positioned to be part of the solution. However, many struggle to see how their skills, interests, and experiences can translate into meaningful social action. That’s where DEGSE steps in.

We believe that education should be more than informative. It should be immersive, participatory, and transformative. Young people today need opportunities to explore their creativity, develop critical thinking skills, and gain the confidence to make a positive impact in their communities. Learning environments must shift from passive knowledge transmission to active, learner-centred experiences that reflect the complexity of the world young people are growing up in.

At the heart of DEGSE is a deceptively simple idea: learning can be both playful and meaningful. Our approach utilises digital escape rooms: these engaging, interactive online games where players solve puzzles to progress through a narrative, thereby building core competencies in social entrepreneurship. In these games, players are not just answering questions; they are stepping into the shoes of changemakers, navigating real-world-inspired challenges, and making decisions that shape outcomes.

Through this format, DEGSE introduces young people to essential ideas such as:

• Identifying and understanding societal needs
• Designing inclusive and sustainable solutions
• Working collaboratively across disciplines and perspectives
• Recognising the value of empathy, resilience, and ethical leadership

But DEGSE is more than just a set of games. It’s a complete educational ecosystem designed with and for youth workers and educators. The project includes:

• A Digital Gamification for Youth Work Booklet that explores the theoretical and practical foundations of game-based learning.
• A report on best practices in using escape games for entrepreneurship education.
• A creation kit and five-part tutorial enabling anyone to design their own digital escape rooms, no programming skills required.
• A Youth Worker’s Guide that makes implementation easy, with tips on accessibility, facilitation, and reflective debriefing.
• A media library filled with free, adaptable assets: templates, images, sounds, and design tools.
• A collection of 10 fully developed digital escape rooms, each focused on a key aspect of social entrepreneurship, designed to be inclusive, multilingual, and accessible to learners of all kinds.

The project places a strong emphasis on non-formal education, accessibility, and inclusion. We are especially committed to reaching young people with fewer opportunities, including those with specific learning needs or from disadvantaged backgrounds. The digital nature of the games ensures broad reach and flexibility, allowing educators and youth organisations to use them in both online and offline settings.

Most importantly, DEGSE is rooted in the belief that young people are not just learners; they are potential leaders, creators, and innovators. By combining fun with purpose, storytelling with strategy, and curiosity with action, DEGSE aims to spark that transformative “aha” moment: I can be part of the solution.

Whether you’re a youth worker looking to energise your methods, an educator exploring new pedagogical tools, or a young person eager to understand how to turn your passion into impact, DEGSE offers a dynamic, supportive, and creative space to explore the world of social entrepreneurship.

Because we believe the best way to learn how to build a better world… is to play.