Around the world with a board game: Our new simulation game Re:Think for Care Germany combines classic simulation games and board games. The focus is on five factories as places of globalised production, political negotiation and personal realities of life in the global North and global South. Participants make collective decisions there – from very different roles. The aim is to generate enough capital in the factories to cover living costs, improve one's own ‘good life scale’ and avoid forced migration as far as possible.

At the same time, the aim is to become more resilient through collective strategies – and to recognise which factors determine these possibilities. How should products be manufactured? What impact do decisions have on income, living costs or environmental sustainability? And how much leeway remains when sustainable production methods are desirable but economically unviable – especially in the Global South? In the ‘How am I doing’ constellations, participants share their experiences and notice the impact their decisions have on others – because everything is also personal.

The simulation game itself reveals global power relations that arise from capitalist and colonial structures. Migration is not presented as a free choice, but as a forced movement in the face of climatic and economic pressures. Flight is not dealt with in all its complexity – but the causes, especially those related to climate change, can be experienced. Structural and individual options for action and causes are discussed.
Inspiration is provided by activism cards, which introduce real climate activists from around the world. They bring global perspectives into play and highlight the diversity of the struggles for climate justice. At the same time, the game highlights a central dilemma: for many people, acting sustainably while securing their own livelihood is anything but easy.

The second part consists of a compass exercise inspired by systemic supervision, which helps participants to reflect on their experiences and translate them into concrete actions. The game consists of two components: the actual simulation game and a courage workshop that transforms emotions, insights and potential into productive energy.

We found it particularly challenging but also exciting to condense such a large and complex topic into a few key aspects. After all, the good life consists of more than just money. That's why we went back to the theory and drew on both the concept of Buen Vivir – the good life from Ecuador – and Bourdieu's types of capital to help participants experience it for themselves. The choice is yours: community, skills or cash – where would you like to invest your money?

A special treat for us as a team was testing the game together in our office in the summer, which led to some lively discussions!