News
“Auschwitz — my land” — Award Ceremony
The nationwide, Polish edition of the educational project, “Auschwitz — my land. History and remembrance years later” has come to an end.
During the meeting at the International Youth Meeting Center in Oświęcim, a ceremony was held where awards and special recognitions were handed out to the laureates of the contest as well as the teachers who oversaw the young people who were taking part in the project. The meeting was held in conjunction with an exhibition of works from the current as well previous contests.
— The theme of this year’s edition of the contest “Being Human in Auschwitz” is a subject, where you focused on, not only showing the heroic, but also the negative individuals, who were faced with all that had happened here — Dr. AlicjaBartuś, the Chair of the IYMC Foundation Board, said to the gathered students — A real hero is someone who sacrifices himself for others. So, who then is a real hero? You wrote about this in your works. Perhaps due to the history you have learned about here, you will save someone’s life, perhaps you will not pass indifferently by someone who is lying in the street. I ask you one thing: that you are not indifferent. Be the heroes of our time — Dr.Bartuś added.
Nearly one hundred works were entered in the “Being Human in Auschwitz” edition. Students as well as teachers met this subject with immense popularity. Close to five hundred thirty students from twenty-five schools, among them in Krakow, Rybnik, Tychy, Gliwice, and the vicinity of Opole,took part in the project.
During the seven years that have passed since the beginning of the project “Auschwitz and My Land”, the theme of each edition has changed, and the number of individuals interested has grown; at first these were students from schools in the district of Oświęcim, then Małopolska and Śląsk, but this year they also included people from other regions of Poland — said Marta Berecka, the project coordinator for the International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust. — One thing has remained constant — the main goal of this project: teaching students the history of Auschwitz, in the attempt to sensitize them to what is happening around us in the context of those past events. I would like to thank the students for the effort they put forward in the creation of their works, for their very personal thoughts, which they wanted to share with us. I am convinced that you are aware that the knowledge you gained while at the Memorial Site has enriched you and will be priceless in your future education — added Marta Berecka.
Participants viewed the film“Niezwykli Oświęcimianie” ["Extraordinary People from Oświęcim"], that presents the fate of individuals who provided help to Auschwitz prisoners during the Second World War.
Thirty-two photographic works were submitted for this contest. From year to year, I see an increase in the interest in this method of showing your reflections.— Stated Teresa Szakiel from the Małopolski Centrum Doskonalenia Nauczycieli — OśrodekDoskonalenia Nauczycieli w Oświęcimiu. [Małopolska Teacher Training Centre — Teacher Training Centre in Oświęcim]— Fourty-six literary works were sumitted. They varied in their form, however, it was most interesting that you were able to so beautifully show your reflections on the subject of the multifaceted nature of being human in such difficult times — she added.
This was followed by announcement of the competition’s and handing out of awards to students by the director of the ICEAH, Krystyna Oleksy, as well as the Małopolska School Superintendent, Alexander Palczewski.
RESULTS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC CATEGORY
First Place:
Mateusz Kozub, supervising teacher: Halina Kulig
Second Place:
Sabina Ciszak, supervising teacher: Magdalena Wużyńska-Tkocz
Third Place:
Katarzyna Bernaś, supervising teacher: Zofia Kanclerz
Special Mention:
Adam Kusz, supervising teacher: Aleksandra Nych
Daniel Mrózek, supervising teacher:Grażyna Ferenc
Ilona Chrapczyńska, supervising teacher: GrażynaPająk
RESULTS OF THE LITERARY CATEGORY:
First Place:
Monika Tarkowska, supervising teacher: Barbara Gawlik
Second Place:
Justyna Stanisz, supervising teachers: Magdalena Soboń, Joanna Cebulska
Third Place:
Paweł Kak, supervising teacher:Renata Jarnot
Special Mention:
Małgorzata Kramarczyk, supervising teachers: Katarzyna Kot, Katarzyna Knapczyk
Maria Głownia, supervising teacher: Barbara Durczok
Rafał Stachura, supervising teacher: Barbara Gawlik
Krzysztof Kopacz, supervising teachers: Magdalena Soboń, Joanna Cebulska
Kinga Bryśkiewicz, supervising teacher: Barbara Durczok
At this year’s meeting, the closing of the annual competition, theMałopolska School Superintendent — Alexander Palczewski was present, who was given the role of honorary patron of the project “Auschwitz and my land”. He turned to the students in the audience: — Standing before you, here after such a wonderful lecture and film, which we have just witnessed, is extremely difficult. I want to read a message to you, which will be the bookend, finishing today’s meeting. I want to read John Paul the Second’s prayer, which is meant for you, young people, thus: This young forest, which grew among the old forest, a young forest of hearts and minds. Let the heart and conscience to be healthy, so that it can bear the heritage, which is called Poland. Be brave today, that is, think about the future and take responsibility for it.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Among the most important goals of the program are, among others: teaching students and educators the history of Auschwitz, learning to evaluate historical events and their consequences in their own lives and those of their loved ones, as well as developing sensitivity. The project includes a series of study visits aimed at middle and secondary school students to the Memorial Site as well as the photographic and literary contest. All together, through the five editions of the project, which has been organized since 2004, over 3500 individuals have participated.
The competition is organized by the International Centre for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, the International Youth Meeting Center in Oświęcim and the Małopolski Centrum Doskonalenia Nauczycieli — Ośrodek Doskonalenia Nauczycieli w Oświęcimiu. [Małopolska Teacher Training Center — Teacher Training Center in Oświęcim].
