To mark World Refugee Day, the Charity Foundation “Stabilization Support Services,” with support from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine, organized a series of events in Chernihiv, Romny, and Dubno. A central element of these gatherings, which brought together dozens of IDP Council representatives, was the board game “At the Crossroads.” The game provided a unique opportunity to not only discuss, but also emotionally experience the journey of forced displacement.
🎲 In the game, participants navigate the path of Ukrainian refugees through the scenario “The Life of a Ukrainian Refugee Abroad”. This scenario meticulously recreates the complex and unpredictable journey of a person seeking safety in another country.
🛤️ What makes this game unique? “At the Crossroads” guides players through the bureaucratic hurdles, language barriers, the search for often underqualified work, and the psychological pressures that Ukrainian refugees face. Players experience prejudice when locals accuse them of “not looking like real refugees” and grapple with guilt and constant anxiety for loved ones who remain in Ukraine. At the same time, the scenario reveals moments of hope: the support of volunteers, aid from humanitarian organizations, successful language learning, and, ultimately, the process of building a new life.
ℹ️ Participant feedback confirmed the success of this gamified, rights-based approach to a refugee-themed event. The game was described as “highly informative and realistic,” as it allows players to feel, rather than just hear about, the challenges millions of Ukrainians face abroad. Such interactive methods prove that sometimes, all it takes to deeply understand the experience of displacement is a roll of the dice and a few steps along another’s difficult path. It is a powerful tool for fostering empathy and building a society that is more sensitive to the needs of every person who has been forcefully displaced.
Visit us on Instagram to learn more about “At the Crossroads”: @thecrossroadsgame.
We support those affected by the war through the Support to the Capacity of Government Institutions and Local Communities to Strengthen Social Protection Systems in Ukraine project, implemented with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
