ESCAPE TRUCK: Education and combating Disinformation
Is it possible to escape the horror of human trafficking? This question is at the heart of an educational project that is coming to Bulgaria – ESCAPE TRUCK. From September 19 to October 9, 2025, this traveling educational project will tour 13 cities across the country to raise awareness about human trafficking, specifically forced labor and sexual exploitation.
We are linking this project to our conference “Digital Citizenship and Combating Disinformation” as it represents an extremely effective and modern approach to prevention. While the conference will bring together academics, researchers, journalists and citizens to exchange ideas and good practices to combat gender-based disinformation, ESCAPE TRUCK demonstrates how we can reach young people in an unconventional and impactful way.
How does ESCAPE TRUCK work?
The project transforms the theme of human trafficking into a captivating escape room located in a truck. Participation is free and open to people over 16. Although in the form of a game, the experience is shocking and deeply moving.
- The experience is interactive, with participants going inside in groups of up to six people. They must solve interactive tasks and decipher codes to “escape” the truck. Their key task is to help a virtual victim escape the trap of human trafficking.
- Real Stories: The rooms are designed to recreate the living conditions of victims, based on true stories of women who managed to escape from the networks of traffickers. Participants will encounter unpleasant sounds and smells that will make them feel trapped.
- Awareness and knowledge: The project aims to raise awareness of the suffering of victims while providing concrete knowledge about one of the most dramatic problems of our time.
Why is ESCAPE TRUCK important in the context of our conference?
The initiative of the Dutch Reshape Foundation (established with the support of the Dutch police) is a great example of how we can use innovative approaches for educational purposes.
Disinformation and human trafficking, especially when targeting young people, often go together. Digital platforms can be used by criminal networks to recruit victims, and disinformation can undermine critical thinking and make people more vulnerable.
- Awareness and Prevention: ESCAPE TRUCK offers a unique approach to prevention by directly engaging participants in the topic. It is a model that shows how we can combat misinformation not only with facts and data, but also through emotionally engaging experiences that build empathy and understanding.
- Connection to reality: The project transforms the abstract topic of human trafficking into a tangible and personal story. This is an approach that can also be applied to combating disinformation – showing how fake news and stereotypes affect real people and communities.
Visit ESCAPE TRUCK in Sofia on September 17 and October 9 from 10:00 to 16:00 and become part of this meaningful experience. The project was initiated in our country by the National Commission for Combating Human Trafficking and is implemented in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bulgaria, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Bulgaria and the Open Space Foundation.
This is an opportunity to see in practice how education, civil society and innovative approaches can unite in the fight against some of the most serious contemporary problems.
To participate in the mobile game, pre-registration is required. Choose a day and time that is convenient for you and register. You can come with friends and classmates, but it is important that each participant registers separately.
Link for registration: HERE
ESCAPE TRUCK is in Bulgaria thanks to the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bulgaria. The project is implemented in partnership with National Commission for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Bulgaria и Фондация Опън Спейс.
