We live in a system that in their assumptions often opposes the reality of life - the diversity of genders. Worldwide, we can observe a process of polarization, which is also taking place in relation to the issues of feminism, the concept of sociocultural gender or sexual orientation. Structural discrimination against women or those who are not heteronormative is increasing. To counteract existing structures, it is important to be aware of them and their consequences. The greater the exchange with different people, the greater the awareness of the limits we reach with our normative perspectives.
Read more: ||REPORT|| Online training “Social Justice and Diversity” - 28.01-16.02.2021
In the last week of the winter holidays, the Krzyżowa Foundation organized day camps called "Creative Week in Krzyżowa". From 11 to 15 January 2021, children from grades 1-4 of primary schools participated in classes prepared by an international team of pedagogues specializing in humanities and non-formal education.
The day camp program was filled with artistic activities, during which children could develop their creativity. They learned, among other things, how to sculpt in clay, weave, paint on glass and fabric, and how to creatively use various types of materials. During a very intense week, among others, hand-melted candles, talismans, painted eco bags, clay figurines were created. Day camp participants also learned how to creatively use new technologies and create stop-motion animations. During the "Stop Montion" workshops, children created their own animated films using art materials, special figurines and tablets.
Read more: ||REPORT|| "Creative week in Krzyżowa" – 11-15.01.2021
Let's bring local history to Instagram! Sounds cool, right? But two exciting topics are joining hands here:
On the one hand, civic education and media literacy can no longer be considered separately, and the Internet, especially in Corona times, has become an educational site. The social network Instagram has now increasingly become a place for historical-political education as well, and numerous museums and educational institutions are now represented there. It appeals to us, on the occasion of the current debates about participation and democracy, to turn to Instagram with a project and to explore the new opportunities that the medium offers for serious historical-political educational work.
Read more: ||CfA || Local History on Instagram
The European Commission has announced the list of winners of the 2019 Altiero Spinelli Prize. The Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe is one of the 16 winners from all over Europe, thereby the first Polish organization in the history of this competition to receive such a distinction.
The Altiero Spinelli Prize has been awarded since 2017 and is a recognition of outstanding activities that promote understanding of the European Union as an integration project and its values. It focuses in particular on initiatives that help young citizens to engage in the democratic processes shaping the future of the EU. In the last edition of the Altiero Spinelli Prize, the activities undertaken in 2019 were assessed, and the work of the International Youth Meeting Center in Krzyżowa was recognized as outstanding in Europe.
The part of the ceremony with the announcement of the winners, including the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe, starts at 1:04 of the broadcast. We invite you to watch an interview with the winners - including Anna Kudarewska from the Krzyżowa Foundation.
Expert jurors paid particular attention to the very ambitious nature of the IYMC projects, the basis of which are meetings of young people from Poland, Germany and often also from other countries. Young people participating in these projects receive a unique chance to learn in an informal atmosphere to discuss, understand people with different views, experiences and expectations, as well as express their opinions and confront them with the opinions of peers in order to build consensus around different views. In this way, young people can better understand their own role in contemporary Europe.
During 30 years of operation, the International Youth Meeting Center in Krzyżowa has cooperated with over 250 schools and institutions, mainly from Poland and Germany, implementing projects with the participation of young people from various backgrounds, with different material status and experiences, also addressed to people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups. Many of them, participating in the projects of the Krzyżowa Foundation, had a chance to meet their peers from other countries for the first time and could overcome barriers created by tragic events in the past. Joint talks about the history and future of Europe, as well as everyday life as seen through the eyes of teenagers, contributed to strengthening the European dialogue by continuing it through the young generation.
Altiero Spinelli (1907–1986) was an Italian politician and political scientist considered to be one of the founding fathers of the European Union. He is the co-author of the Ventotene Manifesto, played a significant role in the federalist movement, had a strong influence on European integration in the first decades and in the 1980s. The main building of the European Parliament in Brussels is named after him.
The list of all winners is available on the website of the competition organizer.
