Reframing History, Reframing the Future. Mapping Trans-generational Heritage among V4 Youth

Four civil society organisations from V4 countries implement drama-based classroom workshops on WWII and dictatorship for secondary school students, combined with one international youth exchange and participatory action research on how Soviet-era memory impacts WWII remembrance — and shapes V4 generational identity — in Gen-Z youth.

Website: www.visegradfund.org 

About the project

The project brings together civil society organisations from the four Visegrad countries to explore how young people understand and remember the history of World War II and the Communist dictatorship.

Through drama-based classroom workshops, an international youth exchange and participatory action research, the project creates opportunities for secondary school students to engage critically and personally with difficult aspects of twentieth-century history.

A particular focus of the project is the relationship between historical memory, Soviet-era narratives and contemporary generational identity in the V4 region.

Main project objective

The project aims to strengthen young people's critical engagement with the history and memory of World War II and the Communist dictatorship, while creating a shared V4 perspective on how historical narratives and Soviet-era memory continue to influence contemporary generational identity.

Project partners

Tom Lantos Institute (Coordinator)

Website: https://www.tomlantosinstitute.hu/

The Tom Lantos Institute (TLI) is an independent human and minority rights organisation with a particular focus on Jewish and Roma communities, Hungarian minorities, and other ethnic or national, linguistic and religious minorities. It is a Budapest-based organisation with a multi-party board, an international Executive Committee and Advisory Board. It operates internationally in terms of staff, partners, scope, and funds. As a research and education platform, TLI aims to bridge the gaps between research and policy, norms and practice.

TLI has developed and implemented drama-based classroom sessions through its "Our Boxes" educational programme, reaching over 600 students in the past two years, and has conducted qualitative and quantitative research in V4 countries on antisemitism with EU funding. TLI currently uses participatory research methods in its "Rural Jewry" project, collecting life-story interviews and developing local history education.

Post Bellum – Czechia

Website: https://www.postbellum.cz/

Post Bellum CZ has extensive expertise in oral history, remembrance education,and non-formal educational programmes focusing on WWII and communist-era history. As a leading Czech organisation working at the intersection of historical memory and youth engagement, it brings substantial experience in experiential learning methods, school-based educational activities, and the use of personal testimonies in history education. Its oral history archive and established workshop programmes provide a strong foundation for both the educational and research components of the project. Post Bellum CZ and Post Bellum SK have long-standing experience cooperating on remembrance education initiatives, including Visegrad Fund-supported projects. Cooperation with TLI is being established through the Theatre ofRemembrance network and this project partnership.

Post Bellum – Slovakia

Website: https://www.postbellum.sk/

The organization has been selected as a project partner because of its extensive experience in non-formal education,memory studies, and public history activities focused on totalitarian regimes, human rights, and democratic values. The organisation has strong expertise in working with young people through experiential learning methods, oral history, and educational workshops, which closely align with the project's objectives related to remembrance culture, critical thinking, and participatory education. POST BELLUM SK is also highly qualified to contribute to the local implementation of research activities connected to the project's participatory action research framework. The organisation has long-standing cooperation with Post Bellum CZ, including Visegrad Fund-supported projects. Cooperation with TLI is being established through theTheatre of Remembrance network and this project.

Stop-Klatka – Poland

Website: https://stop-klatka.org.pl/

STOP-KLATKA brings extensive experience in using drama and Forum Theatre as educational tools for social change.Their participatory methods are designed to foster empathy, critical thinking, and active citizenship, directly aligned with the project's aims. STOP-KLATKA is a partner in the Theatre of Remembrance consortium since 2020, and has established long-lasting contacts with schools and teachers inPoland. Relevant projects include Theatre of Remembrance, Open Up!, To be or not to be well, and Prawo na scenie. STOP-KLATKA hasexperience in international projects as both leader and partner. Their published research reports demonstrate methodological capacity inparticipatory and art-based research, directly relevant to the research dimension of this project. Cooperation with TLI is being established throughthe Theatre of Remembrance network and this project.

Project coordinator

Eszter Susán PhD.
Tom Lantos Institute
Budapest, Hungary

E-mail: 
Website: https://www.tomlantosinstitute.hu/

Project activities and outputs

Planned activities

• Drama-based classroom workshops for secondary school students
• One week long International youth exchange
• Participatory action research

Project outputs

Project news

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Support

The project is co-financed by the governments of Czech Republik, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia through Visegrad Grants from the International Visegrad Fund. The mission of the fund is to advance ideas for sustainable regional cooperation in Central Europe.

Visegrad Fund: https://www.visegradfund.org/