Unlocking Cross-Sectoral Cooperation
Escape Rooms, NGO Strategy, and Cross-Sectoral Cooperation:
Lessons from an Erasmus+ Project in Malta
Can educational escape rooms help bridge the gap between NGOs, schools, and the private sector? That was one of the questions behind “Unlock Cross-Sectoral Cooperation,” an Erasmus+ project between Maltese organisation Projekta Malta and Swedish partners Awesome People, and the answer is yes.
1. Educational Innovation Through Escape Rooms
As part of this Erasmus+ project, Maltese professionals: teachers, learning support assistants, and a psychologist, travelled to Sweden to experience educational escape rooms firsthand. This hands-on learning method encourages collaboration, active problem-solving, and inclusion, making it especially effective for engaging young people who disengage in traditional classroom settings. Back in Malta, the method was tested through public events, youth exchanges, and school sessions.
Want to bring educational escape rooms into your classroom or organisation? Download the free Educational Escape Room Guide, created by Awesome People, and start designing your own.
Portable Educational Escape Rooms – How to Create Your Own
2. Helping NGOs Define and Offer Their Services to Other Sectors
A key insight from this Erasmus+ project was that many NGOs struggle to communicate their value beyond the third sector. Through cross-sectoral cooperation workshops and testing sessions, organisations began shifting their thinking, from “organising activities” to “delivering measurable services.” This mindset change opened new conversations with schools, social enterprises, and private sector actors, helping NGOs position themselves as credible professional partners.
3. A Practical Financial and Marketing Guide for NGOs
To support long-term sustainability, Projekta developed an open-source Financial and Marketing Guide packed with practical tools, templates, and worksheets. Designed for NGOs’, the guide addresses the real barriers organisations face when trying to diversify income, approach the private sector, and communicate their impact.
Download the free Financial and Marketing Guide for NGOs and start building a more sustainable organisation.
GUIDE TO FINANCIAL AND MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR YOUTH NGOS - A ROADMAP TO SUSTAINABILITY
The Wider Impact of Erasmus+ in Malta
Together, these three outcomes demonstrate what cross-sectoral cooperation can achieve when an Erasmus+ project combines innovation with strategy. The partnerships formed, the tools developed, and the mindset shifts unlocked continue to generate new collaborations and project ideas.
If you are an organisation looking to explore cross-sectoral cooperation, these resources are a good place to start.
