September 2, 2025
Parliament in the Palm of Your Hand: Learning Democracy by Playing It
Parliaments are often seen as distant institutions - full of formality, rules, and adult conversations. But what if you could explain how they work… to a 12-year-old?
That was exactly the mission behind Kuvendi në Pëllëmbë të Dorës ("Parliament in the Palm of Your Hand") - the first educational mobile game ever launched by the Albanian Parliament, designed specifically for young users. Developed by ZUNO Games in close collaboration with the Albanian Parliament’s communication team and with the support of NDI Albania, the game introduces children to the core ideas of democracy, participation, and lawmaking in a way that feels natural, visual, and fun.
The game is tailored for school-aged children and young teens, but its intuitive design and friendly tone make it accessible to anyone looking to learn how the Albanian Parliament functions. It was launched as part of the Parliament’s broader youth engagement initiative, aiming to foster transparency, civic interest, and democratic awareness from an early age.
The game was promoted across social media and in schools, supported by official channels of the Albanian Parliament and embraced by educators and parents alike as a new kind of learning tool - one that lives on kids’ screens, but speaks to real-world participation.
The game takes players on a tour of a simplified, storybook version of the Albanian Parliament - but don’t let the bright colors fool you, there’s serious knowledge packed inside.
Along the way, players learn what laws actually are (spoiler: not just rules your parents made up), who gets to propose them, what really happens during a heated debate, and why the Speaker isn't just someone with a loud voice. It’s civic education disguised as an adventure - and the kids are too busy tapping answers to even realize they’re learning.
These topics are presented through interactive mini-games, simple quizzes, and colorful animations that guide players through different rooms and roles within the institution. The gameplay is designed to reward exploration and curiosity, while reinforcing civic knowledge through repetition and story-based mechanics.
And yes - there's even a virtual Speaker character who’s always there with a helpful tip or a quirky fact.
The impact of Parliament in the Palm of Your Hand went far beyond the game itself. What started as a playful experiment quickly grew into a recognized tool for civic outreach:
The game was fully funded by NDI Albania as part of its efforts to strengthen civic education and democratic engagement. And while it was designed for children, Parliament in the Palm of Your Hand ended up surprising quite a few adults too - many admitted they finally understood how certain parliamentary processes worked… thanks to the game their kids were playing.
