History and Politics Education Working Group: Visits to memorial sites
One key focus was on the question of what makes a good memorial site visit. Discussions centred on how such visits can be prepared thoroughly from an academic perspective, supported by educational guidance, and followed up effectively. The discussions revealed that this is not merely about visiting a historical site, but about a well-integrated educational process. Thorough preparation, sufficient time on site, space for impressions and emotions, and effective support for the group were identified as key factors for success.
The topic of getting started with planning a first memorial site trip was also addressed. The discussion centred on how to select topics, find cooperation partners∗ and approach suitable sites. Participants described low-threshold entry points for young people, incentives provided by the trips and the destinations themselves, tried-and-tested materials, and peer-to-peer exchange as particularly helpful – especially when youth organisations or youth councils wish to set up a new programme of this kind. A great deal of attention was given to questions regarding how to engage and involve young people. Discussions centred on how to attract young people to historical and political education programmes, particularly when the topic is initially perceived as difficult to access or unappealing. Good communication, specific events, suitable formats and a focus on young people’s interests and lived experiences were highlighted as key approaches. It became clear that, ideally, extracurricular political youth education and visits to memorial sites should be free of charge for young people, where funding conditions allow, in order to make the programmes accessible and inviting.
In addition, structural issues were discussed. These included costs and personal contributions, funding opportunities for visits to memorial sites, and experiences with project funding, such as in the context of the Foundation ‘Remembrance, Responsibility and the Future’. The discussion highlighted that historical and political education requires reliable funding conditions to ensure that trips and accompanying educational programmes remain as accessible as possible to young people. In further rounds of discussion, specific needs were identified: for example, regarding cross-regional overviews and contacts, specific recommendations for trips to Dachau and the Munich Nazi Documentation Centre, and methods for working with young people. In addition, materials and overviews of destinations, method kits, checklists and best-practice approaches for trips to memorial sites were compiled.
The working group thus once again emphasised the importance of ongoing networking for historical and political education within youth organisations and youth federations. It provides a space to tackle practical issues together, pool experiences from different structures, and further develop formats that empower young people in their engagement with history and the present. Colleagues who are planning initiatives in this area for the first time are warmly invited to enrich the discussion with their questions and ideas.
About the Centre for Political Youth Education and its programmes, networking, knowledge transfer and professional and collegial exchange in the field of political youth education within youth association work are channelled towards the participants’ projects, questions and ideas. The sessions are open to all interested parties and active members from the member organisations of the Deutscher Bundesjugendring who wish to exchange views and get involved in the topics of political education and democracy education.
Further dates for the Political Youth Education Workshop can be found at Dates and Events . For further networking and the exchange of information, ideas and events in the field of political youth education within youth association work, there is the Political Youth Education mailing list. Membership of the mailing list is open to all interested parties, active members and those responsible for political youth education within youth federations and associations; requests to join the mailing list can be sent to the Political Youth Education Unit .