EUSTORY Background Information
Extended Information on EUSTORY, the History Network for Young Europeans:
EUSTORY Network
EUSTORY is
an international network of non-governmental organisations carrying out
historical research competitions for young people in their countries. It was
established in 2001, initiated by the Körber Foundation. With its office in
Hamburg, Germany, EUSTORY currently connects civic organisations from Belarus,
Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy,
Latvia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and Wales.
EUSTORY - The History
In 1994/95 the Körber Foundation and the European Commission supported an empirical survey
in 27 European countries called "Youth and History". As a result of
this survey EUSTORY was launched as a project of the Körber Foundation in order
to raise the interest of young Europeans about local, regional and European
history.
Right from the beginning, EUSTORY promoted the development of a European-wide network of independent history competitions for young people. This was finally achieved, when in September 2001 organisations from 14 European countries joined together to officially establish the EUSTORY network. Since 2008, the number of EUSTORY network members has risen to 22 independent organisations from all over Europe.
All members agree on a common document, the EUSTORY Charter, postulating the "disarmament of history", for tolerance and mutual understanding in Europe.
EUSTORY - The Idea
EUSTORY supports a European perspective on local, regional and national history,
shunning exclusion and promoting understanding. The mandate of EUSTORY is to
view European history from the grass roots and to recognize the vast diversity
of experience. Opposing the abuse of history as an ideological weapon, EUSTORY
emphasizes the view of history as a workshop for intercultural understanding.
EUSTORY: Learning Through Research
Every year,
youth from EUSTORY member countries set out on the trail of history, tracking
numerous themes. The independent national EUSTORY history competitions
encourage young people to look for traces of history in their immediate
environment. Students interview contemporary witnesses, use family sources such
as letters, diaries and photographs, search for original material in archives
or visit the scenes of historical events. They thus examine and consider
history from different perspectives and draw their own conclusions. They liberate
themselves from prejudices and develop the ability to think critically.
EUSTORY Youth Encounters
The
critical confrontation with controversial aspects of European history is the
basis of the EUSTORY youth encounters, where prize winners from all national
history competitions meet. Working with peers, they learn to respect this
diversity and to see themselves through the eyes of others. This leads to
openness, understanding and tolerance in relation with others and foreigners.
Themes discussed include "Being different - living together. Dominant
groups and minorities in society" or "Conflicts - how do they arise
and how can they be overcome?"
EUSTORY Conferences and Workshops
EUSTORY
connects people internationally and across fields of interest. With
conferences, workshops and discussions, EUSTORY transmits ideas and experiences
beyond its own network, and at the same time it takes inspiration from the
worlds of research, media, society and politics. EUSTORY offers politicians,
journalists, scientists, teachers and representatives of civil society a forum
for dialog on how to make responsible use of the European past for a common
present and future.
EUSTORY Publications
EUSTORY
publications provide food for thought toward a European view of our shared
past.
The EUSTORY series "Shaping European History" makes the results of workshops, conferences and seminars available to a broad public.
With selected contributions from European history competitions, EUSTORY Readers relate forgotten life stories discovered by young Europeans.
EUSTORY member organisations publish the results of their national history competitions in their own language - inspirations for interested citizens as well as for scientists, history teachers and experts.
THE NETWORK STRUCTURE
EUSTORY is an internationally governed network:
- an honorary Board of Patrons helps EUSTORY to successfully raise public awareness and support for its mission, aims and activities. It consists of four outstanding personalities on the European level:
Martti Ahtisaari (Former Finnish President)
Władysław Bartoszewski (Former Polish Foreign Secretary)
Jacques Delors (Former President of the European Commission)
Romano Prodi (Former President of the European Commission as well as former prime minister of Italy)
- the network is headed by the Executive Committee, consists of five members. It decides on fundamental concerns of the association.
- the network was initiated by the Körber Foundation
- the Managing Director is appointed by the Körber Foundation, carries out the decisions made at the Annual general Assembly
