Digital Memory and Living Traces: Strengthening Civic Resilience through 20th Century Stories

The project addresses the growing impact of disinformation, historical revisionism, and declining trust in democratic values among young people in Slovakia, particularly in regions with limited access to innovative educational tools. In recent years, manipulative narratives have increasingly misused historical events of the 20th century to polarize society and undermine democratic principles.

A key challenge lies in the gap between formal education and the ability of young people to critically interpret information in a digital environment. Traditional teaching methods often fail to connect historical knowledge with contemporary media literacy skills, leaving students vulnerable to misinformation and propaganda.

The project responds to this gap by linking authentic historical testimonies with modern digital learning tools. It builds on the need for experiential and emotionally engaging education that strengthens critical thinking, empathy, and civic responsibility. By targeting teachers, students, and multipliers, the project contributes to strengthening societal resilience and promoting informed, active citizenship.

The project aims to strengthen civic resilience and media literacy by combining experiential learning with digital innovation. It is built around two main pillars.

The first pillar is the implementation of the 7th edition of the experiential memorial walk “Following the Traces of Hidden Children,” a 7-day educational programme for 52 participants (teachers and young multipliers). Participants will follow authentic historical routes connected to the rescue of Jewish children during the Holocaust, engaging in guided discussions, expert inputs, and reflective activities. The experience will generate original testimonies and field-based insights.

The second pillar focuses on transforming these experiences into accessible digital educational content. The project will produce 5 podcast episodes, 5 methodological guides for teachers, and 10 interactive worksheets for primary and secondary schools. These outputs will be integrated into the existing online platform www.puzzlepamatinaroda.sk, including technical upgrades to improve usability and outreach.

The primary goal of the project is to strengthen historical awareness and civic responsibility among young people and educators through the documentation and interpretation of 20th-century stories. The project bridges live field experience with modern digital tools, creating a sustainable educational ecosystem.
 

1. Expected Results (Outputs): Realization of the 7th Memorial "In the Footsteps of Hidden Children": A successful 7-day educational march for 52 participants along the authentic historical rescue route of persecuted children. This includes direct experience with history in the field. Integration of new interactive elements and modules. The portal will become a comprehensive database processing witness testimonies into a form usable for modern education. Development of 5 professional methodologies for teachers and 10 interactive worksheets for students to facilitate teaching about the Holocaust and totalitarianism. Production of 5 thematic "Digital Memory" podcasts and a documentary film to make the themes of freedom and human rights accessible to the general public.
2. Expected Outcomes (Impacts): We expect young people to become more resilient to disinformation and historical revisionism by working with real oral history stories. Educators will gain innovative tools that transform passive learning into an active experience, increasing student interest in modern history. Through the online campaign and the Puzzle portal, we anticipate a digital reach of at least 5,000 unique users, contributing to a societal discussion on democratic values.
3. Beneficiaries: Direct Participants (52): 23 educators and 29 students completing the Memorial, gaining unique knowledge in documentary work. Primary and Secondary Students Academic Community and Teachers General Public: Viewers and listeners of the podcasts and documentary, fostering collective memory and empathy for victims of totalitarian regimes