In July we were delighted to announce the launch of our Active Remembrance Youth Programme (ARYP), an EU-funded initiative to inspire young Europeans from diverse backgrounds to explore and commemorate World War II along the Liberation Route Europe. At the end of October, ARYP will officially launch with the first exchange trip in the Netherlands and Belgium, focusing on the history of the “Battle of the Scheldt”.
The trip will take place over 4 days, from 28 to 31 October, and will allow young participants to learn about the history of the area in an interactive way, visit some of the many LRE network sites along the way, and exchange perspectives with young people from different European countries. The programme provides an interactive experience that goes beyond traditional classroom learning, actively involving participants in history through workshops, writing interviews, researching historical content and creating podcasts and videos. At the end of each trip, the content will contribute to an online exhibition, showcasing their work and presenting it to a wider audience.
The first trip will start in Breda with a guided visit to the Maczek Memorial, where participants will learn about Poland’s role in the Second World War. From here, the trip will continue to the Lommel War Cemetery in Belgium, where the next day will be spent learning about the soldiers buried there and continuing with interactive learning and content creation.
On the third day, the group will travel to the city of Antwerp for a visit to the MAS museum and a guided tour of the centre, which will highlight the city’s experience during the Second World War. On the last day, the group will travel to Mechelen, where the Kazerne Dossin, a former transit camp for Jewish and Romani people, is located and where the group will have time to explore the city.
Participants can find more information and register at the following link, and detailed eligibility criteria can be reviewed here. The majority of participation costs are generously covered with the European Union funding.