- 120min
- free
- unlimited
- English, Italian
Description
The Treasure Hunt was an educational game focused on Human Rights. Seven teams of children took part in seven challenges, each linked to a key value: rights, dignity, freedom, equality, solidarity, citizenship, and justice. The playful format (riddles, teamwork, water games) allowed children to approach complex topics in a simple, engaging, and concrete way. They discovered that rights belong to everyone from birth, that they must be respected, and that they should never be taken for granted. At the same time, young volunteers had the opportunity to increase their social awareness and develop soft skills in facilitation, coordination, and group management.
Method & Activity Information.
- Difficulty: Medium
- Session location: Palermo, Italy
- Test date: 23/07/2025
- Duration: 120min
- Costs: free
- Materials used: Water balloons, riddles, simple props for physical challenges, teamwork games
- Youth participated: 35
- Registration: none
Case Description
Stakeholders:
- Children from the Sperone neighborhood (Palermo)
- Universal Civil Service volunteers
- Volunteers and activists from antimafia summer camps E!state Liberi!
- Social educators from Libera (coordinating and supervising)
- Local associations (Parish and Pio La Torre Study Centre), supporting children all year with afterschool and summer activities
Needs & requirements:
To create educational and cultural opportunities in a socially disadvantaged area and to strengthen networks between children, volunteers, educators, and associations.
Problems:
Children have limited access to meaningful educational and recreational opportunities.
Topic & themes:
Human Rights, active citizenship, participation, gamification as an educational tool.
The collaboration among children, volunteers, educators, and local associations created a strong sense of communityownership over the activity. Beyond the single event, this network ensures that the educational impact continues in everyday life, as children keep encountering the same values in afterschool programs and community initiatives. This continuity helps transform a one-day activity into a longer-term learning process that strengthens resilience and social cohesion in a disadvantaged neighborhood. For instance, children later revisited these values in afterschool workshops organized by the parish.
Method Usage
- Context: Sperone neighborhood, Palermo
- Country & city: Italy – Palermo
- Target group: children, young volunteers, educators
- Purpose & reason: teaching Human Rights through play; supporting the growth of volunteers’ coordination and facilitation skills
- Session arrangement: 7 teams of 5 children; each team completed challenges linked to Human Rights values; young volunteers facilitated; social educators supervised.
· Results:
- Children gained better awareness of Human Rights.
- Volunteers developed social sensitivity and soft skills.
- Stronger collaboration between community actors.
The Treasure Hunt also served as a practical test of gamification strategies in informal education. By combining teamwork, problem-solving, and physical play, the method stimulated multiple forms of intelligence and allowed eachchild to contribute according to their strengths. For volunteers, it was not only a training ground for facilitation skills but also an opportunity to reflect on their own role as active citizens. This dual impact – empowering both children and young facilitators – makes the method particularly valuable for projects focused on civic education and youth participation.
Method & Activity Feedback
Facilitator
Category
Likert-7 AVG
Description
Effectiveness
6
Very effective in making abstract concepts tangible; The method proved highly effective in engaging child values.
Efficiency
5
Simple and replicable in community contexts; While the activity was smooth overall, some stages required extra time to organize materials and manage transitions.
Learnability
6
Easy to understand and manage, even by non- professional facilitators.
Enjoyability
7
Highly enjoyable, positive atmosphere, dynamic and motivating.
Adaptability
6
The activity can be adapted to different age groups and contexts, though some challenges may need simplification for younger children.
Feedback (recommendation)
6
Strongly recommended for community and educational activities.
Observer
Category
Likert-7 AVG
Description
Engagement & Participation
7
Very high participation and involvement of children and volunteers with strong interaction.
Comprehension & Knowledge
5
Improved children’s understanding of Human Rights; Deeper reflection on certain abstract concepts required more support.
Game Mechanics & Functionality
6
Motivating structure, effective challenges, suitable for children; The Treasure Hunt format worked well, though some riddles were slightly too complex for the youngest participants.
Participant Experience
Category
Likert-7 AVG
Description
Enjoyment
6.5
Children reported very high enjoyment: the activity was fun, dynamic, and engaging, with strong teamwork elements
Usability
6.5
Instructions were clear and easy to follow. Some participants initially needed repetition, but overall the activity was well understood.
Learnability
5
Participants felt they learned new things, though some younger children found abstract concepts (e.g., justice, citizenship) more challenging to grasp.
Recommendation score
5.3
Most children expressed interest in repeating the activity or similar ones, though some preferred more playful aspects over deeper reflection.
Positive
- “It was a very fun game, definitely educational and interesting”
- “This experience gives you awareness and a desire to understand”
- “The activity created a bridge between generations, institutions, and the community”
Negative
- Some children initially struggled to understand the rules of certain challenges, requiring facilitators to repeat instructions more than once.
- Time management was occasionally challenging: a few activities lasted longer than expected, reducing time for the final reflection.
Suggestions & tips
- Collaborate with local associations for continuity
- Use simple, accessible materials to ensure inclusivity
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