In the aftermath of the Second World War, Poland was “moved” westwards c.a. 200 000 km. Several millions of people, including Germans and Poles, had to resettle to the new territories of their respective states. For a half century, the historical narratives of these events were built separately on both sides of Iron Curtain. As such, Jolanta Stecuik’s project, “Borders of Memory”, aimed to explore what transfers of populations and shifting borders after WWII meant to young Polish students, in an attempt to create a shared narrative between young Poles and Germans.
The project examined how past migrations in the region shaped collective and individual memory. At a later stage, given the refugee crisis in Europe, the project was expanded to contribute to people’s readiness to welcome refugees. Societies build their present on their past experiences; therefore, the “Borders of Memory” platform covers not only past events and past migrations, but raises awareness of present refugee experiences in Europe, promotes positive images of refugees (for example, the refugee Olympic team), and promotes engagement in offering assistance to refugees.
“Borders of Memory” identified that there are significant differences between central and regional narratives, approaches to historical heritage, and awareness of the past events and their meaning in the regions of Poland. Additionally, the project revealed that there seems to be a growing need and interest in exploring historical events through the lens of family stories. Finally, the project demonstrates that memory work was and is important, but that it has to be “translated” to respond to current human rights challenges.
The project continues through the “Borders of Memory” Facebook page. Steciuk and her colleagues focus on past events (postwar border changes in Poland and the region, forced migrations during WWII and in the aftermath of the war) and how they shape collective memory in Poland and influence interpretations of current events in the region. Steciuk also published a chapter on pedagogical methods in a handbook, “Histoire croisée as a perspective for non-formal education” (chapter title “Borders Change, Memory Stays”, p. 30-40, in English). This educational method is being used in projects of the Krzyzowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe, an institution that serves as an international youth exchange center.
In addition, the Young Journalists’ Association “Polis” is actively working on a variety of projects, creating in 2016 a project to support a school community (50 km from Warsaw) that hosts refugee children from Ukraine, Chechnya and Kirgizstan. The project consists of workshops and school community integrational events. Second, “Polis” has also been working on an interfaith “Night of Temples” project where residents from Warsaw and Poznan will have a chance to visit several temples including a synagogue, a mosque, and churches of Christian denominations. Finally, “Polis” continues to be actively involved in the No hate speech campaign by working with a partner organization in the Ukraine to create a “No Hate Speech Movement”.
