The European Network Remembrance and Solidarity (ENRS) has announced a contest in which they are looking for compelling first-hand accounts from World War II that have been gathered by competing secondary school students, university students, or teachers from older family members. The project is titled ‘Grandparents. Grand Stories. The Closest Stories from the Second World War’, and the submission deadline is 15 March 2025.
The occasion for the contest is the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Contestants from all countries can apply. A press release by ENRS gives further details, writing:
‘The competition highlights the great importance of intergenerational dialogue, enabling younger generations to learn from the experiences of those who remember the war.
This is a truly unique and perhaps last chance to hear authentic memories before they disappear forever from our everyday lives. It is all about talking with one’s relatives and learning about local histories, nurturing memory and building bridges between the past and the present, putting young people in touch with living history that shapes their identity and social awareness.’
Still according to the press release, participants can submit their entries in the following categories:
- Written work: written memoirs, interviews or descriptions of family memorabilia related to the Second World War.
- Photography: photographs of memorabilia, places or portraits of people associated with the Second World War.
- Audiovisual material: recordings, animations, or films.
- Lesson script: a 45-minute piece for an educational activity on local and family history during the Second World War.
The grand prize of the competition is €1,000, and the winning submission will be published on ENRS.eu as well as being promoted on the organization’s social media accounts. The press release also notes: ‘Participation in the competition provides opportunities for further collaboration and participation in projects organized by the ENRS.’
‘It’s more than just a contest; it’s a bridge between the past and the present, and an attempt to create a collection of personal accounts about events that shaped four generations of Europeans and affected many nations on other continents. By enabling young people to capture these invaluable narratives, we can foster reflection and deeper social awareness among those who only know the Second World War from films and textbooks,’ an email sent to us by ENRS has stated.
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