The Loop and Fammi vedere la luna (Show me the moon)

Transformative play to redefine self-perception and society’s perception in and out juvenile prisons

The juvenile prison system in Italy needs to work on the inmate's background culture and post-prison stigmatization by redefining detention centers as places of care. Within this vision, during a program in Airola Juvenile Prison, we explored the transformative role of play by co-designing with inmates "Fammi vedere la luna" (interactive story-game) and "The Loop" an Escape Room set in the jail.

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Overview

HundrED has selected this innovation to

Gamified Curricula

Web presence

2022

Established

250

Children

1

Countries

Target group

Other

Updated

November 2023

We hope to inspire positive change in the way young people in detention centers envision their future selves. We aim to equip teenagers living in peripheral and crime-prone situations with the essential tools to navigate their challenges effectively. Furthermore, we seek to foster empathy among them towards individuals who inadvertently reinforce stereotypes and discrimination.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

Imprisonment does not facilitate reintegration, but rather promotes segregation and contact with delinquency, increasing the conflict between young inmates and the outside world. The project aims to transform detention centers into places of care through language and landscape changes by working on stigmatization, cultural context, and on the relationship between inside and outside the prison.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

'The Loop' and 'Fammi vedere la luna' have been designed with inmates and include similar topics although target different users: 'The Loop' is a physical Escape Room meant to be played in juvenile jails. The goal is to explore themes and to reflect on inmates’ own identities and conditions through an engaging narrative. Through role-playing the prisoners become protagonists of the story and are led to explore their personal real-life situation through challenges using metaphors.
'Fammi vedere la luna' is an educational tool for students and young people to reflect on freedom, stigmas and cultural contexts around prisons. This game triggers empathy towards people who are in a situation of detention and social marginality by emerging their relational, material and psychological difficulties. This interactive game allows users to influence the story, the events and the emotional states of a boy who is in a juvenile prison through different choices.

How has it been spreading?

The Loop has been organized and played in the juvenile prison during the Summer School in 2022 and in 2023. The game 'Fammi vedere la luna' is accessible and playable by everyone through the website www.fammivederelaluna.mediterraneocomune.it. We have developed a workshop format around the game that we have brought to school in marginal contexts where, beyond the gaming experience, we propose multiple informal activities about the main themes. Both Fammi vedere la luna and The Loop are in a testing phase and projects have garnered significant attention, being featured at various research events and discussions on a national scale. This exposure has helped these projects reach a larger audience and contribute to meaningful conversations about their impact and significance.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

The story game is accessible and playable in Italian by everyone through the website https://fammivederelaluna.mediterraneocomune.it/gioco
Alternatively, you could use the following link: https://landbot.pro/v3/H-1436475-PHSKNXIGTKNI73ZY/index.html
For more information about The Loop, you can contact Claudia Zampella (claudia.zampella@gmail.com) or Anna Baldassarre (anna.baldassarre87@gmail.com)

Impact & scalability

HundrED Academy Reviews

This innovation is truly impactful as it works with a group of young people that are often forgotten, and gives them an opportunity to dream of a future outside of crime and prison. It works on developing important SEL skills .

While naturally aiming towards a dimension of imprisonment, the project is highly scalable both in national and international territory - and responds to collective needs to find alternative solutions for the rehabilitation of inmates.

- Academy member

Academy review results

Impact

Scalability

Exceptional

High

Moderate

Limited

Insufficient

Exceptional

High

Moderate

Limited

Insufficient

Media

from the game-story Fammi vedere la luna

What is freedom for you? - during the workshop in school with the game-story fammi vedere la luna

During the Escape Room - the Loop, in the juvenile prison of Airola

from the game-story - Fammi vedere la luna

Implementation steps

REPLICATE - Escape Room 'THE LOOP'

The Escape Room is an offline experience designed for inmates in juvenile prisons as a tool for reflecting on self-perception, stigmas, and future possibilities.
Anyone could set it up by using the following agenda and list of materials: https://bit.ly/the-loop-agenda
This agenda is a site-specific example of an Escape Room, which means it has been designed according to a specific place and available materials.

THE LOOP SET UP - TIME

Decide on an appropriate time for the Escape Room experience. It is recommended to integrate it into educational activities or special events, such as Summer Schools. Plan activities with a limited time span and incorporate breaks. Consider organizing different rounds with small groups (max 6 people) in each round. Allocate time for resetting the challenges between rounds.

THE LOOP SET UP - MATERIALS

Remind that in juvenile prisons all materials need to be approved in advance and there are restrictions on objects that are allowed inside. Also, consider the absence of an internet connection. Consider taking into account all materials that you bring in and bring back out since some of them could cause harm or self-harm for vulnerable people inside the jail. In general, all materials are easily accessible or reproducible such as padlocks, printed materials, different lockable containers, etc

THE LOOP SET UP - THE ROOM

Typically, a room and easily deployable materials are required. Adapt challenges based on existing objects and furniture. The Escape Room can be arranged in a closed indoor space or a confined outdoor area for flexibility.

THE LOOP - FACILITATORS

Facilitators (at the least 2 people) are external to the story, and are instrumental in the Escape Room's success. They manage audio play, stepping in to address any blocks or improper material use. Their external role ensures smooth execution, enhancing the overall experience and safety of the Escape Room.

THE LOOP - NARRATIVE

Each challenge of the Escape Room is led by an audio description that is part of the narrative and gives some clues on the next challenge. While the audio files are currently in Italian, English transcriptions are available as a foundation for future recordings.

THE LOOP - DEBRIEF

Allocate time for a dynamic debrief, post-Escape Room or later. Use informal methods like the moving debate for engaging discussions on themes like origins, broken bonds, becoming visible, accessing memories, planning tomorrow, taking care, and taking control of time.

REPLICATE - 'Fammi vedere la luna' workshop

The game is a transformative narrative where both the character and the player evolve together along axes related to expressiveness, self-assertion, sharing, reflection, acceptance, and empowerment, themes addressed by the character to varying degrees. The interactive narrative also serves as a means to explore the juvenile detention system and its inhabitants. It can be used as an interactive game in dedicated workshops, addressing the mentioned themes with groups of up to 50 people.

FAMMI VEDERE LA LUNA - Preparatory Steps

Identify the target audience or participants for "Fammi vedere la luna" innovation, such as students, youths, educators, or professionals interested in transformation and self-discovery. Secure the necessary resources, including the game link and a suitable venue or online platform for the session. Set a date and time for the implementation and ensure that participants are available.

FAMMI VEDERE LA LUNA - Welcome and introduction

Start the session by welcoming the participants and ensuring they feel comfortable and included in the environment. Provide a brief overview of the session's goals and objectives. Break the ice with an icebreaker activity, you can use an online platform like Mentimeter to ask introductory questions and see real-time responses from participants. This can help participants get to know each other and set a positive tone for the session.

FAMMI VEDERE LA LUNA - Theme Exploration

To set the mood and introduce the game's themes, conduct a creative warm-up activity. Ask the participants, "What does freedom mean to you?" and provide them with Dixit cards (or different kinds of pictures). Each participant can choose a card that represents their personal concept of freedom and share it with the group. This activity will help participants express their thoughts and initiate a discussion related to the game's themes.

FAMMI VEDERE LA LUNA - Game Explanation

Describe the game's core themes, including expressiveness, self-assertion, sharing, reflection, acceptance, and empowerment, and how they are explored through the character's story.
Explain that players will make decisions throughout the interactive narrative that influence the protagonist's path and the variables of trust, risk, and emotions in the story.
Distribute the necessary game materials, tablet or phone, the game platform it's digital.

FAMMI VEDERE LA LUNA - Guided Gameplay

Instruct participants to play "Fammi vedere la luna" game individually or in groups, depending on the preference and group size.
Encourage participants to immerse themselves in the interactive story, make choices, and engage with the narrative.
Facilitate the gameplay by being available to answer questions and provide guidance as needed.

FAMMI VEDERE LA LUNA - Different Chapters

Show the different chapters of the story such as:
The Stigma of Places: Provenance
Acceptance of Others: Curiosity and Discovery
Relationships and Care: Brotherhood and Love
Family: Letter to the Father
Emotional Fragility: Mental Health
Temptation: The Escape
Discuss with them, based on their different choices, which narrative they have uncovered. This will allow participants to explore the diverse aspects and themes of the game and how their decisions impact the story's development.

FAMMI VEDERE LA LUNA - Debrief and Discussion

After the gameplay session, gather all participants in a circle to create a safe and inclusive space for discussion. Prepare the class for a discussion about their choices in the game and if they got stuck, rejected, or conflict. Ask about previous knowledge and experience with jail, and about concepts such as freedom deprivation, making mistakes, privilege, and being an outcast.

FAMMI VEDERE LA LUNA - Q&A and Closing

Open the floor for questions and address any concerns or inquiries from the participants. Summarize the key takeaways from the session and encourage participants to explore the game further. Thank the participants for their engagement and participation, and provide any relevant follow-up information or resources. These step-by-step instructions will guide you through replicating and implementing "Fammi vedere la luna", innovation for a transformative and educational experience.