ICT&E  /  Echoes project 2020 – 75 years of Liberation

Echoes project 2020 – 75 years of Liberation

(Dutch)

‘Echoes from the past, Stories for the future’

“For centuries the history of Canada and the Netherlands has been connected by the belief in the power of courage and friendship.
Thousands of Canadian men and women crossed the ocean and risked their lives to free us from the horrors of war and an uncertain future.
The brave who stayed at home continued to work for a good outcome too…

75 Years later: still so many stories, many echoes to share and to pass on, gratefully for freedom to celebrate together”.

Fortunately, they are still with us: the many people who experienced the time period of 1940 – 1945 themselves. The main purpose of this project is to connect young people from then and now, from Canada and the Netherlands, in the past, present and future.

What can young people today, 75 years after the liberation, learn from the stories and experiences of someone who was just as young as they are now?
What thoughts, words and advice have the ‘youth of the past’ for the ‘youth of today’?
How can we pass on the echoes from the past in stories for the future?

We proudly introduce our Echoes 2020 ambassadors to you.
These respected global educators support the goals and message of this joint celebration of 75 years of freedom and explain why they value and this project so much.

Echoes project 2020 connects Twinschools.

Many GTP schools have celebrated the Liberation in 2005 and 2010 in the very inspiring ‘Echoes from the past’ projects (Presented at the iEARN 2010 Conference in Barrie, Ontario)
Students and teachers, veterans and elderly from Canada and the Netherlands were connected in ‘Echoes from the past; Poems for the future’.

75 classes from Canada + 75 classes from the Netherlands

Our aim for 2020 is to connect 75 classes from Canada 1:1 with 75 classes from the Netherlands.
And of course, classes/schools with a ‘Liberation 75’ connection to other countries (Poland, Suriname, USA, UK etc.) are more than welcome to join our project.

Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic

As of mid-March, due to the impact of the Coronavirus, schools in Canada and the Netherlands are closed. Also, in The Netherlands meetings and events with more than 3 persons are forbidden until June 1st. As a consequence, all national, regional and local May 4-5 events are cancelled. So now it’s up to the creativity and persistence of students, teachers and schools to use ICT’s and continue the Echoes 2020 work, and so they do.

We are honoured to share two of the great examples already presented, the videoconference with WWII veteran Mr Don White. And, inspired by their teacher Ms Linda Brasjen, an excellent video production created by Floor B, Laura, Suze en Lotte, students from CC. de Noordgouw in Heerde, Netherlands. This video connects ‘National news ‘about the start of WWII to a very personal story. More inspiring examples to follow.

Project timeline:

• February 3 – April 6: Phase 1 – Research the past.
  • Dutch and Canadian students from two classes form groups of 4 to 6 students
  • Students get acquainted and start working together
  • Students reach out to their local community and (if possible) connect to Elderly People who were teenagers during the Second World War (about the age as the students are now) and organize meetings. Subjects of their conversations/interviews could be daily life during the war, experiences from veterans as a soldier (overseas), the Holocaust and the liberation.
  • And of course, in each community, there are probably stories archived about heroes from the war, so memoirs, documentaries, remains of the war and books could be the most accessible resources.
  • Dutch classes have a ‘spring break week’  during this phase.

• April 6 – May 1: Phase 2- Explore the present.
  • Are there still echoes from WWII in our daily lives?
  • Do we maintain our freedom gained 75 years ago? If so, how?
  • What lessons have you learned from your conversations and research?
  • Canadian classes have a March break week’ during this phase
• May 1 – June 1: Phase 3 – Think about the future.
  • In this phase, each group creates a final text, poem or piece of art to celebrate 75 years of Liberation?
  • How might you pass on the echoes from the past into stories for the future?
  • What needs to be done, to be able to celebrate 100 years of Liberation in 2045? By whom?

Partnering organisations 

Our ‘Echoes from the past, stories for the future’ project matches very well with other Canadian initiatives. We have partnered with two Canadian organisations with the same aim. A link to the Echoes project will be included on their website.

Liberation75 – A not-for-profit global event (May 31 – June 2, 2020, in Toronto) dedicated to commemorating and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War 2 and liberation from the Holocaust. (Postponed due to COVID-19 situation)

Dutch Liberation 2020 Canadian Society – Coordinating efforts to provide various events and activities in Canada to thank and to honour Canada and its soldiers, sailors, and airmen.

“Echoes from the past, stories for the future”.

Gelukkig zijn ze nog bij ons: de ouderen van nu hebben als jongeren de periode ’40-’45 zelf meegemaakt.
Wat kunnen jongeren van nu, 75 jaar na de bevrijding, leren van de verhalen en ervaringen van iemand die toen net zo jong was als zij nu?
Welke woorden geven de jongeren van toen aan ons mee?
Hoe worden echo’s uit het verleden door de jongeren van nu doorverteld voor de toekomst?
En er zijn in ieder dorp of stad vast en zeker memoires,  verhalen en andere bronnen over de lokale geschiedenis te vinden.

Echoes projecten in 2005 en 2010

Canisius Almelo deed in 2005 als Nederlandse VO-school al mee aan het eerste ‘Echoes project’. Op 5 mei 2010 vierden we 65 jaar bevrijding; een tweede succesvol ‘Echoes 2 project’ werd geinitieerd door TTO-docent Maurits Kamman, Marc Vreeswijk (ICT-coördinator Canisius) en Bob Hofman (Global Teenager Project). In dit tweede Echoes project werden verleden, heden en toekomst verbonden in “Echoes from the past; Poems for the future”.

Echoes Twin Schools project 2020

Nu zijn we bijna 10 jaar verder. Docent Maurits Kamman (Canisius Almelo) wil in het herdenkingsjaar 2020 ’75 jaar bevrijding’ vieren en met zijn leerlingen de virtuele oversteek naar Canada maken; omdat de Canadezen en Nederlanders een lange geschiedenis samen hebben en er nog zoveel te delen is.

Ook Aardrijkskunde docente Patricia Nieboer (Helinium Hellevoetsluis) is enthousiast over de internationale samenwerking van het Global Teenager Project:
“Ik wil mijn leerlingen graag de ruimte geven om zelf op onderzoek. Er staan in de haven van Hellevoetsluis oude bunkers, sommigen zelfs van voorWOII… hoe komen die daar? Zijn deze bunkers ook door de Duitse bezetter gebruikt? Zijn er nog mensen in de stad die weten wanneer en hoe ze gebouwd werden? Ik nodig mijn leerlingen uit op zoek te gaan naar sporen, verhalen en gebeurtenissen uit het verleden. Om vandaar uit de stap naar het heden te maken. Het lijkt me gaaf om die resultaten aan onze partnerklas in Canada te presenteren… en ook van hen te horen wat zij gevonden hebben.” Samen met Maurits en Patricia gaan we aan de slag om Echoes 2020 tot een succes te maken.

Het streven is om in het ‘Echoes 2020 Twin Schools project’ leerlingen van 75 scholen uit Canada en 75 scholen uit Nederland met elkaar in contact te brengen.
Van februari t/m april 2020 gaan vele klassen uit Nederland samenwerken met hun ’twinclasses’ uit Canada.

Het is niet nodig met z’n allen naar Canada te vliegen als je door de inzet van ICT een sterke verbinding kunt maken met leeftijdgenoten van toen en nu.
In het Echoes 2020 Twin Schools project ‘Echoes from the past, stories for the future’, verbinden we jong en oud uit Canada en Nederland, in verleden, heden en toekomst.

Inschrijven – Click here to register until January 29 2020.