20th century in the current struggle for freedom

The project is aimed at educating young people in the field of modern Slovak history, which is an area that is not given enough attention in the school curriculum, education here is primarily based on facts memorizing. The workshops are based on principle of experiential education and concrete human destinies, so the participants not only understand the historical context, but also can empathize with the destiny of characters. Thanks to online educational platform Memory of Nations Puzzle, young people get to know the history of their nation and will be able to face radicalisation of society.

The project tackles the rising polarisation and radicalisation in Slovakia. Far-right violence, suppression of democracy and anti-Semitism  are on the rise among youth and young adults. The COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and rising migration boosted this sentiment further. Gaps in teaching ​modern history and rising disinformation hinder young people from distinguishing (un)reliable information and block their critical thinking. 

At Post Bellum, testimonials are used to educate and engage young people in reflecting on the past. Together with Post Bellum CZ, we recorded 16,000+ testimonies of people who lived through important historical moments in the 20th century and compiled them for the public on our online archive, Memory of Nations. Our educational activities aim to educate youth and young adults about the history through experiential education and a modern online platform. 

Our team of 9 lecturers work at schools and lead workshops for youth and young adults. During the school year, we conduct 30 workshops per month. Each workshop has 26 students and 2 teachers from the school. We also share our material online for teachers and parents at www.puzzlepamatinaroda.sk. 

The workshops use innovative experiential methods to educate youth on complex topics, such as Slovakia's modern history. We also work with archival material to help students learn history and culture and develop emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills. The Memory of Nations Puzzle platform offers a unique platform for teachers, students, and parents. Our programmes build a better society and protect freedom, human rights, and democracy in Slovakia. 

Every part of the project, especially the workshops, is transferable to other regions and countries. Our work is financially supported by the European Commission. We also have lectured internationally in the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia.