Culture of remembrance - ,, Us and them, before us''

The starting point was the hypothesis that teaching about the WW2 and fostering a culture of remembrance is not at a satisfactory level. In order to establish whether it is correct or not, we conducted qualitative research in the form of focus groups with teachers in one, and students in the other one, as respondents. The results analysis showed that neither the students nor the teachers are satisfied with the current state of teaching about the WW2 and cultivating the culture of memory, both in terms of quantity and quality. The students claim that they are fully aware of the topics importance, stating that knowing the past is the key for understanding the present, but they hope that it can be done in a more modern way, using 21st century approaches and teaching methods. Comparance of the results of the research conducted in all 3 schools, lead us to the conclusion that we, the partners, are in a very similar situation when it comes to teaching about the WW2 and the culture of remembrance. Therefore, we have the same need to change the current status. Besides mentioned, having in mind our students are the same age; that the 80th anniversary of the victory in the WW2, we came up with the project idea.

Main goal was sharing examples of good practices on how to teach about the WW2 and how to nurture the Culture of remembrance among youngsters. In details, the objectives were: to increase number of lessons and outdoor activities related to WW2 and COR; to increase variety of subject involved in teaching WW2 and COR, besides history, to increase quality of teaching about WW2 and COR by implementing 21st century approaches and techniques, to motivate teachers in creating, piloting, sharing, reflecting and performing trainings; to raise quantity and quality of student’s knowledge, skills and attitudes related to WW2 and COR; to foster common values like anti-discrimination, antiwar attitude, respecting victims, accepting responsibility, human rights, importance of knowledge in breaking prejudice etc.; to raise awareness of cultural heritage importance, but not to over valuate it comparing to others; to decrease gaps between cultures of Cyprus, N. Macedonia and Serbia; to decrease gaps between Z generation and previous ones in terms of history, culture, mindset, values; to decrease social divide by making knowledge, skills and values approachable in every way; to develop cross curriculum competences etc.

1. E twinning project Getting closer: Cyprus, N. Macedonia and Serbia; culture and culture of remembrance’’ (preparatory activity performed online, including various activities in order to introduce to each other); 2. Teacher's preparatory meeting (conducted in order to get an agreement about the project in details); 3. 1. Culture of remembrance week in country of an applicant, Belgrade, Serbia (main activity of piloting 5 lesson plans, outdoor activities, job shadowing) ; 3.2. Hosting Week of remembrance - Serbia (realization of WOR agenda); 4. 1. Culture of remembrance week in Nicosia, Cyprus; 4.2. Hosting Week of remembrance - Cyprus; 5.1. Culture of remembrance week in Bitola, N. Macedonia; 5.2. Hosting Week of remembrance – N. Macedonia; 6. Teacher's closing meeting, Larnaca, Cyprus ( to reassume and analyze project product, results and outcomes, reflection, evaluation results, dissemination plan, final report); 7.1. Operative activities Serbia (Monthly activities which needed to be done in order to ensure continuity and progress in conducting project as it was planned, in all of its phases); 7.2. Operative activities Cyprus; 7.3. Operative activities N. Macedonia; 8. Dissemination, visibility, sustainability.

Results are published at Erasmus+ Project Results Platform. Some of the outputs and outcomes are: Manual - final product containing 15 lesson plans/ teaching scenarios on How to teach about the WW2 and how to nurture Culture of Remembrance; Teacher’s training on how to teach according to us and them before us manual; 15 lesson piloting certificates, 18 job shadowing certificates, 60 support certificates, 40 appreciation certificates etc.; Project website, Instagram and You tube channel (8 videos), 5 newspaper articles, 2 radio, tv interview; Conferences lectures or presentation: Open science international conference Serbia, Histolab conference Belgium, Online conference Slovenia, Blended Mobility TCA training, On site presentation Italy, Euro Clio training Slovenia; Templates for Call for participants, agreement, Agenda, Lesson plan, Manual, Mobility report, Announcements, Certificates etc.; E twinning project conducted; One application for Erasmus+ KA1 project, for Austrian MOE award and for Western Balkan further cooperation; Focus group teacher and students results analyses; E twinning project, Teacher preparatory and closing meeting, WOR, Manual, Project in general qualitative and quantitative evaluation and reports.