Since February, project participants have been discovering, researching, and documenting selected histories connected with local places of memory. On 12 June, the hall of the Pilecki Institute turned into a project fair. Pupils from primary and secondary schools, members of non-governmental organisations, as well as independent researchers presented their work.
Some reached new, previously unknown sources; others focused on popularising little-known aspects of local history. Participants’ stands were visited by experts in the popularisation of history, who spoke with the authors of the projects and shared their experience.
“These people, who went through the experience of fighting both totalitarianisms, can no longer tell their story. What remains after them is memory. And that is precisely why, if we want to be remembered, we should remember those who came before us,” Andrzej Poczobut told those gathered at the ceremonial gala.
Andrzej Poczobut’s visit during the final of the nationwide historical and educational project “Memory of Place, Places of Memory” also had exceptionally important and symbolic meaning for him personally.
“I believe that these places of memory will be important not only to you, but also to those to whom you will tell this history. Thank you very much for what you are doing,” he said to the participants of the final gala.
Andrzej Poczobut admitted that Witold Pilecki is an important figure for him: “It was precisely their example [the generation of Witold Pilecki, which struggled against two totalitarianisms] that gave me strength. Thanks to them, I was able to get through all the experiences that befell me and become who I am today,” said Andrzej Poczobut.
Although the project “Memory of Place, Places of Memory” is not a competition, the meeting concluded with a voluntary vote by participants for the most interesting initiative. The largest number of votes went to the “Searchers of Historical Traces” from Zgorzelec, who chose as the subject of their project the German transit camp for Jews in Prędocice.
To restore the memory of this forgotten place, they had to face many difficulties, including independently determining the exact location of the former camp. Our warm congratulations!
We thank all participants for their commitment, passion, and courage in addressing difficult local histories. We extend separate thanks for substantive support to the experts:
• Karolina Kolbuszewska, Director of the Pilecki Family House Museum
• Karol Madaj, Acting Director of the Pilecki Institute
• Łukasz Mieszkowski, Deputy Director of the Pilecki Institute
• Jacek Staniszewski, Deputy Head of the Education Department of the Pilecki Institute
• Wojciech Saramonowicz, Head of the Oral History and Film Production Department of the Pilecki Institute
• Dr Anna Stróż-Pawłowska of the Pilecki Institute, who researches places of memory
• Marcin Urbanek, Head of the Commemoration Department of the Pilecki Institute
• Jadwiga Wedrychowicz, social activist and guardian of places of memory in Biecz, connected through the figure of her grandfather, Józef Pruchniewicz, with the “Called by Name” programme.
See you during the next edition!
Fot. Jan Sochaczewski / Instytut Pileckiego
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