Olga K.

A diary from the 13th MitOst Festival [Olga Konovalova]

Since 2003 activists in fields of cultural, language and civic exchange in East Central Europe, which are members of an association MitOst, meet annualy – each time in a different city – and develop themselves in different topics. Get to know MitOst here: www.mitost.org.

And read here a diary from the 13th International MitOst Festival written by Olga Konovalova:

„An old green train #115O that passes daily through Lviv and goes to Ivano-Frankivsk, or Stanislau (an old name of the city which I like more). It goes slowly without stops through the villages, endless picturesque fields and dense forests as it gives time specially for enjoying the landscape. The train has its typical knock sound which I missed in European trains. I ask the train conductor to bring me glass of tea in metal glass-holder, which is possible to find only in trains of post-soviet countries. I was drinking sourse by source the tea, enjoying the landscape and thinking what is waiting on me at MitOst festival. I was going without any expectations or knowledge what is going to happen and looking forward to discover the city, the festival and organization itself. Continue reading „A diary from the 13th MitOst Festival [Olga Konovalova]” →

How comes to discrimination? Be aware / Jak dochodzi do dyskryminacji? Uświadom sobie

Migration and discrimination of migrants were topics of a two day workshop at the Museum of History of Polish Jews in Warsaw.

We learnt what we need to act against discrimination: knowledge, skills, reflection -> motivation to act. These reminds me of the concept of Swiss Johann Pestalozzi „head, heart and hand” [głowa, serce, ręka]. It means that our mind, feelings and actions should „act” together. Continue reading „How comes to discrimination? Be aware / Jak dochodzi do dyskryminacji? Uświadom sobie” →

Drama as a tool of education of antidiscrimination

Drama can be a very useful tool of education against discrimination. The society of Drama Practitioners STOP-KLATKA conduct a number of seminars about different drama techniques. These passionate people are working for social change by using the Applied Drama method and teach working with drama. Continue reading „Drama as a tool of education of antidiscrimination” →

Jan Karski. Human beings and H/history

Looking for examples of brave but not out of reach people? Jan Karski was one of them. His life was an inspiration for the conference „Jan Karski. Human beings and H/history. Aims of education for antidiscrimination”. Continue reading „Jan Karski. Human beings and H/history” →

Textbook „History and human rights”

KARTA Center’ve published the textbook „History and human rights” and translated it into English. You can find the textbook here. I’m the co-editor of the textbook. Continue reading „Textbook „History and human rights”” →

Workshops „History and human rights”

History education can be connected with the field of human rights. Since 2010 I’m attempting to do it on a theoretical and practical way. I worked out a theory and methodology on it, which could be useful also for you. You can download it here. You can also download workshop scenarios for work with adults and pupils here. Continue reading „Workshops „History and human rights”” →

Human rights and restorative justice

Do you know what is restorative justice? It is an approach to justice that focuses on the needs of the victims and the offenders, as well as the involved community, instead of satisfying abstract legal principles or punishing the offender. („A New Kind of Criminal Justice”, Parade, October 25, 2009, p. 6.). The methods of restorative justice are often a topic of education about and for humen rights, which implements e.g. the Polish Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. Continue reading „Human rights and restorative justice” →

Teaching materials to human rights

Teaching human rights is a challenge for people from different fields and institutions. That’s why the Centre of Human Rights Education of the University of Teacher Education in Lucerne is organising the Human Rights Education Symposium in Lucerne. The topic of the Symposium in 2012 was the developing of teaching materials on human rights education. Continue reading „Teaching materials to human rights” →

Network of cultural and civic activists – MitOst

The Society MitOst is a living network of cultural and civic activists in Eastern and Central Europe. Every year member meet at different cities in the region. A member can be everyone, who is interested in the culture and civic life in the region. The meetings have the name „Festival” and have different topics. E.g. the 9th Festival of MitOst took place in České Budějovice from 28.9.2011 till 2.10.2011. The topic of this MitOst – Festival was new forms of engagement. There were many people who are engaged for a balanced life. Continue reading „Network of cultural and civic activists – MitOst” →

German-Russian cooperation

German-Russian cooperation is supported on different ways. One of the initiative is the Petersburger Dialog. It was initiated by the German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and Russian president Wladimir Putin 2001 and it works till now. Since 2014 it is more and more criticized because of its political dependence. Continue reading „German-Russian cooperation” →