Training Course

30 November – 6 December 2025 | Krzyżowa, Poland

“Uprooted – (Hi)Stories of Stolen Children during WWII” trains educators to explore the history of child abductions under Nazism and integrate this sensitive topic into their own educational work through immersive, participatory methods.

WHAT IS UPROOTED – (HI)STORIES OF STOLEN CHILDREN DURING WORLD WAR II

Since 2022, the Kreisau-Initiative e.V. has been coordinating the international project “Uprooted – (Hi)Stories of Stolen Children during World War II,” in cooperation with its partner organisations: Fundacja Krzyżowa dla Porozumienia Europejskiego (Poland), Tolerspace (Ukraine) and Post Bellum (Czech Republic).

In this training module we are cooperating with a new partner KONTAKTE-KOHTAKTbI e.V. (Germany), where we also would like to shed light on the fates of stolen children from Poland, Ukraine, and the Czech Republic – and now also include a special focus on the little-known stories of children from Belarus and Romania. These children’s lives were violently uprooted, their identities altered or erased, and many never returned to their families. Their stories have remained largely untold and underrepresented in public discourse and memory.

The project aims to deepen the understanding of National Socialist crimes through the lens of Human Rights Education. With English as the working language, the week-long seminar features testimonies, films, historical workshops, lectures, and discussions. By bringing together young adults from Germany, Poland, Czech Republic as well as Ukrainian and Belarusian in exile in the age of 18 – 29 years, the program encourages critical reflection on the legacy of Nazi ideology, the importance of remembering marginalized victims, and the continued relevance of children’s rights in today’s world.

This year’s program in Krzyżowa (Poland), taking place from November 30 to December 6, 2025, places particular emphasis on Belarusian and Romanian perspectives, featuring workshops and lectures led by historians and educators from KONTAKTE-KOHTAKTbI e.V. and other partner organizations.

More information about “Uprooted” are available on the website of the project: https://uprootedchildren.eu/en

WHAT YOU GAIN FROM THE TRAINING COURSE:

During this immersive training week, you:

Deepen your understanding of the histories of children stolen during World War II – with particular focus on cases from Poland, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Belarus.

Participate in lectures and workshops led by experienced trainers from the “Uprooted” project as well as external historians and experts from across Europe.

Explore educational materials and methods that will help you address these sensitive and often overlooked topics in your own teaching or workshop settings.

Develop skills for responsibly and effectively facilitating discussions around difficult histories and human rights.

Connect with fellow educators, youth workers, and historians from various countries to exchange best practices and foster future cooperation.

WHO CAN JOIN:

This training course is open to you if you:

Are an experienced practitioner in the fields of education, youth work, citizenship education, or history – such as a teacher, trainer, museum educator, or NGO facilitator.

Are a motivated newcomer who is curious about historical learning and nonformal education, even if you don’t yet have practical experience.

Are at least 18 years old.

Reside in one of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, North Macedonia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, or Ukraine.

Are fluent in English, as it is the working language of the entire programme.

Since we also focus on losses experienced by Belarusian communities, we also welcome Belarusian people in exile who currently live in one of the eligible countries.

LANGUAGE

The training course will be held in English.

YOUTHPASS

Participants are entitled to receive a Youthpass certificate from the organiser, for recognition of their competence development during the activity.

APPLY HERE: https://kreisauinitiative.wufoo.com/forms/rpbdfxh0b68xp3/