HISTORIA
The History Competition of the Swiss History Teachers´ Accosiation.
Homepage (in German, French, Italian)
Applications are open for the history competition 2007-2009, whose theme is "borders." Borders may be geographical and political, but they also may be societal - whether linguistic, social, cultural and religious; between the genders; between various city districts and between city and country; between young and old, or between accommodation and rebellion. The deadline for submission of projects is 25 April 2009.
Mercator Foundation Switzerland
The foundation supports projects dealing with innovations at
universities, activites for childrenand adolescents and tolerance
through internationals exchange.
Homepage (in German only)
EUSTORY Academies in 2008
24 September – 01 October 2008 in Scuol (Lower Engadine), Switzerland
The Engadine – Life in a remote but internationally connected mountain valley
Text and images: Beno Baumberger
Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Rumania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia and Switzerland - these are the home countries of the current winners of the "Eustory" European history competition. As winners, these rising academic stars had the opportunity to take part in an international study week. This year, there were three such programmes: one in Berlin, another in Belgrade and the third - from 24 September to 1 October 2008 - in Scuol. The programme was organized by "Eustory" in cooperation with "Historia," Switzerland's history competition, and made possible through the financial support of the Mercator Foundation Switzerland. The goal of the study week was to encourage teens to take part in independent and critical confrontations with the past, and to learn from grass-roots research. In Scuol, the study week focused on "Migration."
Seeking traces of the past in Kirov, Turin and Berlin
© Beno Baumberger
"Lower Engadine is a secluded mountain valley with a very open spirit; it is an ideal place to carry out this unique project," says Christiane Derrer, president of "Historia." During their stay, the teens were charged with the task of tracing immigration from Engadine throughout Europe. Stanislav Rozhnev found information about confectioners from Engadine in Russia. Sarah Di Vito found clues about chocolatiers from Graubünden who carried out their craft in Turin and started family-run businesses. Julia Buchholz tracked down an "athletic" story in Berlin - that of Swiss football trainer Lucien Favre. The teens brought the results of their research to Switzerland, using Scuol as a base for discovering Engadine.
Grass-roots research in Engadine villages
© Beno Baumberger
The "Historia" team prepared a diverse programme for the teenage participants. They learned about working with sources through visits to local museums and archives. Historian Paul Grimm used the example of the village of Ftan to illustrate various dimensions of local history. Also in Ftan, participants met local pupils and had the chance to build connections for the future. In Lavin, they became acquainted with one of the farming traditions of Lower Engadine through the "Bal da la Schelpcha," a popular festival surrounding the "Alpabtrieb" - the ceremonial driving down of cattle from alpine summer pastures.
In order to learn about local history on their own, the teens focused on specific themes in several villages. The group in Tschlin looked at industry; those in Vnà focused on agriculture; in Scuol the teens examined the development of tourism; in Ardez, culture was the theme; and in Sent, migration. In each village the teens had a chance to carry out interviews with eyewitnesses, including those born in the area and those who had immigrated there. At the end of the week, the Eustory winners visited Upper Engadine, where one of their stops was at the local documentation library.
Christiane Derrer found the meetings between local inhabitants and the teenaged visitors from abroad most enriching, especially since "it was much easier to get into personal conversations [in the villages] than it would have been in a city."
A history competition for teenagers
The history competition aims to awaken interest among children and teens in local history, to promote independence and strengthen a sense of responsibility. The methodology is characterized by "learning through research" and "experiential connections": Teens grapple with the history outside their own front door - a history whose effects often can be felt to this day. The history project work is very promising and appropriate to history education, strengthening the discipline of history.
