Belgium

Contact
King Baudouin Foundation

Rue Brederode 21 | 1000 Bruxelles | Belgium

Jan Blondeel

Phone: +32 25 49 02 40
email: blondeel.j@kbs-frb.be
www.portaildemocratie.be (about the history competition : A la recherché de mes racines) )
www.kbs-frb.be (about King Baudouin Foundation)
About the organisation
The King Baudouin Foundation is a public benefit foundation
Its Mission is working together for a better society. The King Baudouin Foundation supports projects and citizens with a commitment to build a better society. It looks for sustainable ways of bringing about justice, democracy and respect for diversity. The King Baudouin Foundation is independent and pluralistic. It was established in 1976 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of King Baudouin’s reign.

Themes:
  • Civil Society & social commitment - encouraging social commitment; promoting democratic values among young people; supporting neighbourhood and local projects
  • Migration & a multicultural society - promoting integration and a multicultural society in Belgium and Europe
  • Poverty & social justice - identifying new forms of social injustice and poverty; supporting projects that build greater solidarity between the generations
  • Health - promoting a healthy way of life; helping to build an accessible and socially acceptable healthcare system
  • Philanthropy - helping to make philanthropy more efficient in Belgium and Europe
  • The Balkans - protecting the rights of minorities and the victims of human trafficking; setting up a visa system for students
  • Central Africa - supporting projects in the field of AIDS prevention and offering guidance to AIDS patients

Our scope of action:
  • Belgium: with attention for communities and regions
  • International: with focus on (South-East-) Europe and on transatlantic relations

A combination of working methods:
  • support of third party projects
  • round tables and seminars
  • function as a forum
  • missions assigned by public authorities and institutions
  • partnerships with government bodies, associations, non-governmental organisations, research centres, businesses and other foundations (free) publications and reports

The Eustory competition is organized by the Belvue museum and the democracy portal who are both part of the King Baudouin Foundation.
The history competition
The Family tree
The central theme of the history competition for the 2007-2008 school year is ‘family history.’ The point of departure is the question “How did my parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. live when they were my age?” The underlying question is: “What did it mean to be young during different times and in different social contexts?”

The theme must in any case be well-defined, depending on personal interests and available sources (living grandparents, availability of photos).

The aim of this project is for young people to develop another vision of the past. Thus, certain everyday events and situations can be better understood. Moreover, this year’s theme - ‘family history’ – encourages young people to learn and explore their own history up close.

This theme does allow a critical approach to history from the point of view of citizenship.

It is open, wide enough and accessible to all and place students at the same level of equality. Everyone has something to say about their family?

It promotes intergenerational contacts concentrate on the personal story of an ancestor, parent or grandparent but by considering them witnesses of their time.

We want them to be attentive of social value, by integrating a particular story into general history.
Requirements
The competition is intended for students of the two last years of secondary schools (the age 16 to 18 years old).

Students are asked to undertake research within their families to work in archives and libraries and find sources about their chosen topic. During their field work they should conduct interviews with contemporary witnesses, search in archives, libraries, etc. The result of their research should be verifiable and presented in a clear manner that shows analytical as well as interpretative skills. Students can work alone or in groups. The entries can be presented in a large variety of forms, i.e. written essays, a website., a video, an exhibition, an art product or a DVD.
As Belgium has three language Communities the youngsters can write in one of the three official languages.

In order to give all participants a fair chance and to encourage all eligible persons to join the competition, the Scientific Board decided to accept entries written in any language that Romanian education law allow in schools.
Jury
There is a different jury for each language community. The jury is chosen by the King Baudouin Foundation and is composed of professional historians, university teachers, writers and journalists. The evaluation is carried out in two stages. First each entry is evaluated by members of the jury. In a the second stage selected students will defended there work publicly in front of the jury.
Award
Money prizes are granted for the three Communities:
(total amount maximum 13 000 Euro)

10 prizes for the Flemish Community (1 x 1000 Euro, 9 x 500 Euro)
10 prizes for the French speaking Community(1 x 1000 Euro, 9 x 500 Euro)
3 prizes for the German speaking Community (1 x 1000 Euro, 2 x 500 Euro)