Winners of the First History Competition “Trails of Remembrance” collected their prizes in the Youth Cultural Centre in Oświęcim. The competition, under the patronage of Marcin Niedziela, was organised by the Youth Cultural Centre and the Remembrance Museum of Land of Oświęcim Residents.
Kamila Sibik and Janusz Majchrek – teachers from the Youth Cultural Centre provided the musical accompaniment for the event. Teresa Jankowska from the District Board referred to the first of the pieces in her address.
“It used to be a different world. The years 1939-45 are a long time ago, for young people they are even more distant. But is it not our challenge to discover that other world and look for certain analogies? It wasn’t long ago that young people told me that they felt as if they were in a war during this pandemic. Because we’ve been locked down, because we don’t know when the pandemic will end. It’s just as our grandparents, who were children at the time, also didn’t know when the war would end.”
Youth Cultural Centre director Alina Kwarciak encouraged the young people with her words, “Somebody once said that he who fails to remember history is destined to relive it. Let’s not want to experience that history but do let’s remember it. Let’s also remember that in difficult times, there was always a ray of sunshine, there was always a little smile. Let’s search for the positive in every story, something which will encourage us to grow and to act.”
Remembrance Museum director Dorota Mleczko thanked the young people for their participation in the competition:
“You are uncovering history, discovering the interesting fates of the inhabitants of this area. It is most crucial to remember so we can feel at one with those who have gone before us.”
The competition entitled “Trails of Remembrance” for pupils from classes IV-VI AND VII-VIII of primary school as well as secondary schools in the Oświęcim district aimed at raising young people’s interest in local history.
Primary school pupils’ task was to create a piece of art entitled “Forgotten histories” – illustrating a place, event, person or their history from the period 1939-1945 in the Land of Oświęcim.
The literary competition entitled “An unknown hero whom I know” invited pupils to portray somebody from the region who showed courage and rendered aid to those in need during WWII.
Secondary school pupils’ artistic challenge was entitled “Various forms of aid during WWII in the Land of Oświęcim” and the literary challenge “Unknown stories of those from the Land of Oświęcim who rendered aid during WWII.”
Art Competition
Category: Primary School
Distinction: Tomasz Kurek from Kopernik Primary School nr 2 in Brzeszcze, supervised by Joanna Maruszy-Mondygrał
1st place: Not granted
2nd place: Natalia Wojciechowska from Kopernik Primary School nr 2 in Brzeszcze, supervised by Irena Chrapek-Kurczab and Jolanta Hodur
3rd place: Iwona Dębska from Sienkiewicz Priamry School in Laskowa, supervised by Ewa Kozak
Distinction for idea: Emilia Kukla from Pre-Primary Schools with Integrated Classes in Brzeszcze, supervised by Katarzyna Studencka
Category: Secondary School
No prizes granted.
Literary Competition
Category: Primary School Classes IV-VI
1st place: Bartosz Wawrety from Primary School nr 2 in Zaborze, supervised by Marta Jarosz
Category: Primary School Classes VII-VIII
1st place: Emilia Stawowy from Kopernik Primary School nr 2 in Brzeszcze, supervised by Jolanta Hodur
2nd place: Karolina Mizia from Kopernik Primary School nr 2 in Brzeszcze, supervised by Jolanta Hodur
3rd place: Not granted
Distinction: Weronika Borowcyk from Grottgera Primary School in Poręba Wielka, supervised by Elżbieta Kurkowska
The following received souvenirs as a token of their participation:
Oliwia Ostafin from Primary School nr 1 in Przeciszow, Emilia Naglik from Kopernik Primary School nr 2 in Brzeszcze, Daria Folga from Primary School nr 1 in Przeciszow, Natalia Cholewka from Primary School nr 1 in Oświęcim, Kacper Żydek from Pomnik Dzieci Więźniów KL Auschwitz-Birkenau Primary School in Brzezinka, Patryk Masłowski from High School nr 2 Szkół Ogólnokształcących Mistrzostwa Sportowego i Technicznych in Oświęcim, Marta Piotrowska from High School nr 4 Szkół Ekonomiczno-Gastronomicznych w Oświęcimiu, Paweł Jurecki from Sienkiewicz Primary School in Grojec, Izabela Folga from Primary School nr 1 w Przeciszow.
The organisers would also like to express their thanks to:
Jolanta Hodur from Kopernik Primary School nr 2 in Brzeszcze, Joanna Maruszę-Mondygrał from Primary School nr 2 in Brzeszcze, Irena Chrapek Kurczab from Kopernik Primary School nr 2 in Brzeszcze, Ewa Kozak from Sienkiewicz Primary School in Laskowa, Katarzyna Studencka from Pre-Primary School nr 4 with Integrated Classes in Brzeszcze, Marta Jarosz from Primary School nr 2 w Zaborze, Elżbieta Kurkowska from Grottgera Primary School in Poręba Wielka, Katarzyna Siutaj from Pomnik Dzieci Więźniów KL Auschwitz-Birkenau Primary School w Brzezinka, Agnieszka Cisowska from Primary School nr 1 in Przeciszow, Joanna Sałek from Sienkiewicz Primary School in Grojec, Bogusława Buczka from High School nr 4 Szkół Ekonomiczno-Gastronomicznych in Oświęcim, Katarzyna Strycharska from High School nr 2 Szkół Ogólnokształcących Mistrzostwa Sportowego i Technicznych in Oświęcim, Beata Janusik-Księżarczyk from High School nr 2 Szkół Ogólnokształcących Mistrzostwa Sportowego i Technicznych in Oświęcim.
In conclusion, Joanna Cebulska, who hosted the meeting, encouraged all participants to regularly visit the newly created educational portal which can be found at
We warmly congratulate all winners and look forward to your participation in future history competitions!
Photo: Participants at the prize giving
Photo: from left – Youth Cultural Centre Alina Kwarciak, Remembrance Museum director Dorota Mleczko, District Board Member Teresa Jankowska
Photo: Kamila Sibik i Janusz Majcherek – teachers from the Youth Cultural Centre
Photos: Prize giving
Photos: Prize giving
Photos: Prize giving
Photos: Prize giving
Photo: Group photo
