Gamification against criminality
ABOUT THE APP
Our app is built around the theories of Gamification and Sense of Coherence (SOC). The app is a primary tool for documenting, communicating, administrating and coordinating Neighbourhood internally, but it is also fun and intuitive for our participants to use.
Quests

Rewards

Level Up!

The Platform
The app is built and designed like a mobile game. Inside the game, every participant has their own account where they collect coins and other currencies whilst also leveling up. In order to collect currency you have to participate physically in different quests, such as homework sessions with our volunteers or internships with our collaboration partners.
All the quests are created to be long-term investments in our participants’ future, and they revolve around any of our three focus areas: school, work and character.
When a participant has collected currency they can use it to buy rewards which the app presents. Like the quests, the rewards are created to benefit our overall goals, but also to encourage commitment amongst the participants. We categorize all rewards as events or merits;
- Events are meaningful recreation, for example a ski trip.
- Merits, for example driving lessons, help build our participants résumés.
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THE THEORIES BEHIND OUR CONCEPT
Gamification
During our initial surveys and pilot year at Neighbourhood, we identified two recurring and concerning beliefs among the youth we engaged with.
The first was the perception that doing well—or poorly—in school in Sweden doesn’t really matter. Many participants compared this to their countries of origin, where misbehavior often led to immediate and tangible consequences, such as standing in the corner, physical punishment, or other disciplinary actions.
The second challenge was a lack of long-term thinking. It was difficult to engage the youth with the idea that succeeding in school today could significantly impact their future ability to support themselves and others.
With these two insights in mind, we developed a rewards-based system designed to create clear, immediate incentives and short-term goals—focusing on positive reinforcement to build motivation and engagement.
SOC
– Sense of Coherence
The theory of Sense of Coherence (SOC) centers around the human need to feel part of a comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful community in order to thrive. At Neighbourhood, we incorporate this theory into our app and educational approach to strengthen our participants’ sense of coherence.
Our app, designed like a game where users collect and spend points, provides a clear and structured framework. Participants easily understand what’s expected of them and what they can expect in return—making the experience feel predictable and comprehensible.
By breaking down major goals—like finishing school or finding a job—into smaller, short-term milestones, we enhance manageability. For example, focusing on homework for a few weeks to earn a go-kart reward, and then committing to another ten weeks to qualify for a ski trip, feels far more achievable than staying motivated for five years with the distant promise of buying an apartment.
Through this structure, we make long-term development feel more immediate, attainable, and engaging.