Children aren’t fish and they have their voice

The project "Children are not fish and have their voice" supports and strengthens the citizenship attitude of children and youths from Primary School No. 81 (SP 81) in Lodz in terms of their engaged, courageous and innovative commemoration of the former camp for children and youths at Przemysłowa Street in Lodz. The pupils of SP 81 cooperate with various entities of public life, from young politicians, through museums to NGOs and therefore improve their historical knowledge regarding children's martyrdom from Łódź.

The purpose of the project "Children are not fish and have their voice" is to support and strengthen the citizenship attitude of children and youths from Primary School No. 81 (SP 81) in Lodz in terms of their engaged, courageous and innovative commemoration of the former camp for children and youths at Przemysłowa Street in Lodz.

It will happen through their involvement in activities during which they will be able to promote their current achievements more widely and also ask for help thereby initiating the creation of a permanent support network in commemoration of important local history.

Thus, in addition to SP81 support, the goal of the project is also to activate other entities from Łódź.
All project activities were designed to ensure that SP81 pupils have the opportunity to cooperate with various entities of public life - from young politicians, through museums, to NGOs. Support for children and youth from SP81 in their courageous, innovative and full of engagement actions of the modern commemoration of the history of the former children's and youth camp at Przemysłowa Street in Łódź, located inside the Jewish ghetto, near the Gypsy sub-camp, is necessary.

The actions of the children reminded the inhabitants of Łódź of the forgotten camp, which were not properly noticed and appreciated. Children felt disregarded and confused. They needed motivation for further actions.

During the project activities, children will work with coaches dealing with civic education and youth work in the field of commemoration, as well as with SP81 teachers - educating in accordance with the methods of so- called A waking school focused on the subjective treatment of children, developing their creativity and cooperation skills.

On 1st June, during the annual commemoration of the camp, SP81 will present to the wider public its achievements in the field of commemoration, invite them to explore the camp as part of its field game and present an innovative history lesson on the camp.

The latter will be prepared with the employees of the Museum of Independence Traditions, the Łódź branch of the Institute of National Remembrance and the Circle of Guides, earlier learning the history of the camp in a broader context – during walks in the area of the former Jewish ghetto, the camp for Polish children and the Gypsy sub-camp, they will learn about the war stories of Jewish, Roma and Polish children.

The Promotion Office of the City of Lodz Office and local media will ask for help in preparing and carrying out a promotional campaign for children and youth from SP81. For help in contacting the residents and the Housing Estate Council, which is in the place of the former camp, they will ask the Łódź NGOs community – through the Council of Non-Governmental Organizations of the Łódź Voivodeship, and the City Office.

Own resources

Actions taken in the framework of the project will serve to achieve the intended goal.

As a result of the project activities, 100 children (and, indirectly, a wider school community) will improve their knowledge and skills in the field of civic education and in the field of historical knowledge regarding children's martyrdom from Łódź.

As a result of involvement in the project local knowledge on the subject of SP81 activities in the field of commemoration will increase, social trust of local community members will be built, and local community integration in this respect will start.

Thus, the beginning of a network of 10 entities will be created - SP81 and 9 organizations / institutions. 10 visits to public places, 10 historical walks, 1 photo competition, 2 presentations will be organized (during the celebration of June 1, field game and lesson, and December 11, competition results and project summary in the form of a film). Documentation from the existing projects will be ordered. A textbook for teaching about children's martyrdom will be created. A film presenting the course of the project will be also made.

The "Children aren’t fish and have their voice" project is an undertaking integrating many generations around a socially important topic, developing many soft competences of both pupils and adults.

Students were given the space to co-decide and co-create a project action plan. All project participants benefited from new technologies. They were involved in the creation and implementation of ventures such as field games, interviews, surveys, etc.

The project is thoroughly innovative in the context of new methods of teaching history, as well as the training of key competences, including the development of soft competences.

Participants learn through experience.

Students learned from each other as well as from adult project partners. Interestingly, adults learned from children.

Students from 7 to 14 year-olds as well as adults - project partners were involved in the project.

The project refers to such issues as: gender, migration, disadvantaged groups.

The project participants perform tasks based on patriotic values, learning the history of the former Nazi concentration camp for children and youth, they explored ethical and moral issues such as friendship, loyalty, freedom, justice, etc.

The project combines historical, social and civic contents, touches broadly understood art.

The students collaborated with partners on various levels - they interviewed and contacted officials, planned lessons with employees of the Institute of National Remembrance and museum guides, recorded radio interviews and television broadcasts, etc.

The project involves developing social and civic competences, opening participants space to co-decide on important issues in the immediate area, and even on a city scale.

Children were learning how to make decisions.

Not relevant

"At Home" Association in Krakow, the City of Łódź Office, the Institute of National Memory in Łódź, the Museum of Independence Traditions, TVP Łódź, Radio Łódź, the Modern Education Foundation "Spunk", the Board of Education in Łódź, the Dialogue Center in Łódź, the Youth City Council in Łódź

All parties involved should use the example of the good practice. It should enable the involvement of participants.

Project participants were divided into teams led by coordinators of team activities. A team for project evaluation was also selected. A deferred evaluation was also carried out.