The European Union is a strong promoter of the importance of Skills, which are especially relevant in today’s market. Through a number of initiatives, the EU supports young women and men across the Southern Neighbourhood to develop their competences and secure a promising future. In this Flashback series, we speak to individuals who benefited from these projects. Today, they reflect on the positive impact this EU support has had on their life.

Joining the MED GAIMS project turned Sondos Al Rqibat’s life around. After developing her own immersive educational game, the young Jordanian is now ready to enroll in a PhD in gaming in one of the top universities in the world.

When you embarked on this journey, what were your dreams?

I wanted to tell the incredible stories and show the hidden treasures of my country, Jordan, particularly those of Umm Qais and the ancient Gadara. But I wanted to do it in a fun and educational way, different from the traditional guided tours. I dreamt of creating an immersive experience that would tell the extraordinary stories of these places in a completely different way. I had the idea of developing a game that would make visitors more interested, where they would have conversations and learn from each other.

I became passionate about storytelling and games and thought of a project that would be much more fun than just listening passively to a guide.

What skills did you gain through the EU-funded MED GAIMS project and how did they help you advance your dreams?

Participating in MED GAIMS completely changed me and my life’s path.

Firstly, I learned technical skills like the ideation process which helped me turn my ideas into  reality; then, I experienced the entire production process where I saw the game I had in my head come to life. It was really impressive because I realised I had all of that in me and I just needed guidance to make these ideas come true.

Thirdly, I gained some knowledge that I am now able to share with my own students, at the Design and Visual Communication Department at Jordan University of Science and Technology. This is one of the most rewarding things because I can now communicate my passion and inspire others to find theirs. Before this project, I did not realise the power that games have to transfer knowledge. Now I know how powerful it can be and I want to keep harvesting this power!

Finally, and more related to my personal life, I have to say I found my path. I discovered that the field of gaming was truly my passion and that I wanted to pursue a career in this. Thanks to my experience with MED GAIMS, I have been accepted into one of the top 100 universities in the world, where I will be doing a PhD in gaming. 

Today, what is your proudest achievement?

I am proud of having achieved all of this and being successful at it. My game -the Gadara spinner- is up and running now and tourists are using it. 

I learned so much on my journey: I became a better leader, a better speaker; I am more confident. 

Before I started this project, I was not even sure if I wanted to do a PhD and now, I have been accepted to some of the most prestigious universities in a very specific field. I do not see limits to the possibilities anymore. I am now dreaming very big!

Flashback to: https://south.euneighbours.eu/ecard/sondos-al-rqibat/