Learn About the Game

Journey to Resilience is an interactive board game designed to help young people explore emotional resilience in a safe, creative, and playful environment.
Developed within the EmpowerCanvas Project, the game combines art, mindfulness, and collaborative learning to strengthen essential life skills such as:

• Emotional regulation

• Self-expression

• Problem-solving

• Empathy and teamwork

Through teamwork, creative challenges, and guided reflection, players are encouraged to discover new ways to handle stress, communicate openly, and face real-life challenges with confidence.

Objective

The goal of Journey to Resilience is to build emotional awareness and coping skills through a blend of play, art, and mindfulness.
By engaging in collective storytelling, decision-making, and reflection, participants learn to recognize emotions, express themselves safely, and find constructive solutions — all while having fun.

Who Is It For?

The game is ideal for:

• Youth aged 15+, especially those navigating social, emotional, or behavioral challenges

• Participants in youth programs, schools, NGOs, or Erasmus+ initiatives

• Groups of four or more players, working in teams

It can be used in a range of settings, including:

• Creative workshops

• Schools and after-school programs

• Youth centers and community spaces

• Therapy, coaching, or mentoring sessions

How Youth Workers Can Facilitate

Youth workers, educators, or facilitators play a key role as the Game Master, ensuring that every participant feels included and supported.

They can:

• Guide gameplay and explain rules clearly

• Encourage teamwork and safe emotional sharing

• Lead reflection rounds after tasks or at the end of the game

• Adapt questions or tasks to suit the group’s age, context, or comfort level

• Promote inclusion by ensuring all voices are heard and respected

The impact of the game is greatest when facilitators model empathy, patience, and curiosity, creating a space where every player feels valued.

Where to Get the Game

Journey to Resilience is available in two easy-to-use formats:

• Print & Play (PDF version): ready to print and use offline

• Digital Version: suitable for online facilitation and virtual learning (for example, via Zoom)

You can download or access the game for free at:
www.theartmind.eu

Languages available:
Portuguese | Croatian | English | German | Ukrainian | Russian

Journey to Resilience was designed with an inclusive mindset — to meet young people where they are, regardless of their background or life experiences.
It is not about labels or diagnosis; it is about connection, creativity, and empowerment.
Every player brings their own strengths to the table, and every round is an opportunity to learn and grow together.

About the Project

This game was created as part of the Erasmus+ Project “EmpowerCanvas” (Project No. 2023-3-PT02-KA210-YOU-000176401), coordinated by Portugal, with partners from Croatia and Germany.
The project is funded by the European Union.

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.