In April 2025, GameOn welcomed our Czech project partners to Malta for a visit that combined project planning, international exchange and, of course, plenty of board games.
The two Czech project leaders travelled to Malta to meet with the Projekta team and discuss the next stages of GameOn. An important part of the visit was planning PlayQuest, the upcoming experience in Czechia where Maltese participants would spend a week exploring board games, game creation and entrepreneurship.
But we didn’t want to keep the visit around the meeting table.
Bringing the Board Game Communities Together
The Czech partners joined us for a public GameOn board game meetup, giving them the opportunity to meet Malta’s growing board game community and share some of their own experience.
They spoke about how they use board games in their activities in Czechia, including working with young people and using games as a way to encourage learning, communication, problem-solving and social interaction.
And naturally, they brought some Czech games with them too!
Together with games from the GameOn Malta Library, this gave everyone a varied selection to discover. Some games were quick and easy to learn, while others challenged players to think, strategise, cooperate or simply try something completely new.
Meeting Before PlayQuest
Around 45 people joined us during the afternoon, including the ten Maltese participants selected to take part in PlayQuest in Czechia.
For them, the meetup had an extra purpose.
It was their first opportunity to meet the Czech project partner in person before travelling to Czechia. They could talk about the upcoming programme, ask questions and start getting to know the people who would be hosting and guiding them during their week of board-game-related activities and training.
A few months later, those same participants would travel to Czechia and experience the world of games from several completely different perspectives.
More Than Just Playing Games
One of the aims of GameOn is to introduce more people to the world of board games – including people who may not normally consider themselves board-game players.
This afternoon showed exactly why.
Different tables quickly formed, rules were explained, games changed hands and people who had arrived not knowing each other were soon playing together.
There was plenty of competition, but even more conversation, humour and laughter. Food was shared, new games were discovered and new friendships began around the tables.
It was a simple reminder that board games can do much more than entertain. They can create a reason for people of different ages, backgrounds and experiences to sit together, communicate and connect.
Malta Meets Czechia – One Game at a Time
The event gave the Maltese community a taste of the Czech partners’ passion and experience with board games, while giving our Czech guests an opportunity to experience Malta’s own growing gaming community.
Most importantly, it brought people together.
And for our ten future PlayQuest participants, it was only the beginning of an adventure that would continue a few months later in Czechia.
Sometimes all it takes to start a new friendship is an empty chair, a board game and someone asking: “Want to play?”
