Visibility of eTwinning Projects Group July 2026 Newsletter
From Memory to Responsibility: Empowering Young Europeans Through eTwinning by Adam Stępiński
Bridging borders through shared history Our journey brought together students from Deutschhaus-Gymnasium in Würzburg, Germany, and Copernicus Upper-Secondary School in Tarnobrzeg, Poland. From the start, the collaboration was built on shared responsibility, with both teams designing activities that blended local heritage with broader European themes.
It is a privilege to share my reflections on a project that has deeply moved both my students and me. As a teacher, I have always believed that history should not be a static collection of dates in a textbook, but a living dialogue that shapes our future. Through our eTwinning project,“ Young people in resistance against totalitarian systems and dictatorships – freedom and historical heritage as a responsibility for the future of a united Europe,” we aimed to transform how German and Polish students perceive their shared history and their role in a democratic society.
One of the most profound aspects of this project was seeing students move from simple introductions on Padlet to engaging in deep, ethical debates. By exploring the stories of resistance fighters like, for example, Jerzy Popiełuszko and the White Rose movement, students didn’ t just learn about the past, they began to empathize with the moral dilemmas of individuals who chose courage over silence.
Learning through simulation and debate A particularly meaningful activity was the“ What would you do?” simulation. Using
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