A tool to break the silence – one card at a time
Breaking the Silence is a conversation game that creates a safe space for difficult but necessary conversations about love, boundaries, and violence. The game has been developed by Fonden Gaia in collaboration with women who live or have lived at a crisis centre, as well as professionals and experts from Institut Mod Vold. The aim is to break the silence and create reflection and community – both for those who have experienced violence and for those who want to understand it better.
The game is designed for young people and adults (from age 16 and up), and can be used:
By people who have experienced violence
By relatives and professionals
In education, communities, high schools, and crisis centres
By groups seeking to prevent violence through dialogue
Each card has an English translation on the back, so the game can also be used by English speakers in Denmark.
Why a game about violence?
Violence in close relationships is a serious and widespread issue – yet it is often downplayed or not talked about at all. Breaking the Silence is a response to this: a simple and accessible way to open up difficult topics without it becoming overwhelming. When we speak openly about what hurts, shame loses its power. And it becomes possible to take action – both as individuals and as a society. But it also requires that we dare to challenge our own prejudices, relational patterns, and potentially harmful behaviour. Only then can real change happen.
The game's structure
Examples of questions
How does psychological violence differ from an ordinary argument?
Do you notice a pattern in the partners you choose?
You see your friend put something in a girl’s drink at a bar. What do you do?
What ways of showing love matter most to you? Should a partner understand your ‘love language’?
Should you report that your friend has had suicidal thoughts?
What does it mean to take responsibility? Do you know someone who avoids it?
Together against silence
We first introduced the conversation game Breaking the Silence at Folkemødet 2025, where it attracted great interest from both professionals and visitors. The game was used as a starting point for open conversations about violence, boundaries, and relationships – and it became clear that there is a strong need for new ways to talk about these topics.
Breaking the Silence is a tool for awareness, prevention, and community. When we dare to listen, ask questions, and share, we create the foundation for change.
