Contemporary witness events

Keywords	Awareness Education Intergenerational
Target Group	Different Ages
Used Methods	Discussions Interviewing Online Lecture Workshops
Categories	Educating Discussions Counter Misinformation Awareness
Level of Participation	National Level
Approach	Science-Based
Format of the Method	Hybrid (Combination Of The Two)
Duration of preparation	Short-Term (Less Than 1 Month)
Duration of implementation	A Day Or Less

Duration

From	Until

Short Description

Eyewitness work is dedicated to actively engaging with recent history through the personal accounts of contemporary witnesses. The aim is to bring historical events, social upheavals and everyday life in past decades to life and make them comprehensible based on authentic life stories – especially for future generations.

Zeitzeugenarbeit widmet sich der aktiven Auseinandersetzung mit der jüngeren Geschichte durch die persönlichen Berichte von Zeitzeuginnen und Zeitzeugen. Ziel ist es, historische Ereignisse, gesellschaftliche Umbrüche und Alltagsleben vergangener Jahrzehnte anhand authentischer Lebensgeschichten lebendig und nachvollziehbar zu machen – insbesondere für nachfolgende Generationen.

Results

Possible Outcomes of Eyewitness Projects
1. Documentary Outcomes
Video/audio recordings of interviews
→ As raw footage or professionally edited pieces for use on YouTube, educational platforms, or archives.

Transcripts and eyewitness portraits
→ Written versions of interviews, often enriched with biographical background, suitable for educational or exhibition use.

Digital archives or online platforms
→ Publicly accessible databases featuring interviews, search functions, context information, and educational resources.

Exhibitions (physical or digital)
→ Presentation of project results in schools, museums, community centers, or as interactive virtual galleries.

2. Educational and Didactic Materials
Teaching materials for schools
→ Worksheets, thematic booklets, and project ideas for classroom use.

Workshops and seminars
→ Designed for teachers, students, and educators using the collected eyewitness materials.

Multimedia learning tools
→ Podcasts, explainer videos, story maps, and interactive modules featuring original quotes and photographs.

3. Artistic and Cultural Outputs
Theatrical performances, readings, or scenic collages
→ Adapted from or inspired by eyewitness narratives, sometimes co-developed with the witnesses themselves.

Literary publications
→ Books, biographies, or collections of personal stories based on the interviews.

Youth-led creative projects
→ Short films, poetry slams, comics, audio guides, or exhibitions created by young people.

4. Social and Societal Impact
Promotion of intergenerational dialogue
→ Creates meaningful exchanges between young and older people, fostering mutual understanding.

Empowerment of eyewitnesses
→ Recognizing and valuing their life stories, giving them a voice in the public discourse.

Strengthening of civic and historical education
→ Helps audiences grasp the importance of democracy, human rights, and civil engagement.

Development of empathy and critical thinking
→ Especially for young participants, eyewitness work promotes personal growth, reflection, and responsibility.

5. Sustainability and Long-Term Use
Integration into school curricula or institutions
→ Materials can become part of ongoing educational programming.

Collaboration with memorial sites or archives
→ Ensures long-term preservation and dissemination of the results.

Sustainable project structures
→ Examples include a recurring annual event, the creation of a pool of trained eyewitnesses, or a permanent online platform.

Goals

Aims
Preserving a culture of remembrance: Personal experiences should be documented and prepared for educational purposes.

Promoting empathy and understanding: People of different generations should enter into a dialogue through direct encounters or digital formats.

Democracy education: The stories illustrate the value of peace, human rights and democratic structures.

Conveying history at eye level: History is not conveyed in abstract terms, but is made tangible through individual experiences.

What is needed

1. Clear Project Objectives
Define the historical periods or events to be explored (e.g., WWII, post-war reconstruction, Cold War, migration, political transformation).

Clarify the goals: educational, memorial, intergenerational dialogue, media production, research, etc.

2. Eyewitness Involvement
Identification and recruitment of eyewitnesses (e.g., older adults, migrants, war survivors, civil society actors).

Support structures: training or briefing for participants, safeguarding emotional well-being.

Consent forms for interviews, documentation, and publication.

3. Educational and Documentation Tools
Interview guidelines and question sets.

Recording equipment: cameras, microphones, smartphones, lighting.

Archival tools: structured digital storage, transcription software, metadata tagging.

Optional: professional media support (editing, subtitling, design).

4. Participants and Facilitation
Recruitment of youth groups, schools, volunteers or university students as interviewers or documenters.

Intergenerational workshop facilitation and training for respectful, empathetic interviewing techniques.

5. Formats and Output
Live talks or digital sessions (Zoom, YouTube Live, school visits).

Podcasts, documentary clips, exhibitions, books, websites, digital archives.

Creative outputs: theater, animation, storytelling projects, co-created art.

6. Partnerships and Network
Cooperation with:

Schools and universities

Historical associations or memorial institutions

Senior organizations or nursing homes

Local archives or libraries

Municipalities or civic education agencies

7. Funding and Resources
Budget for:

Equipment and technical support

Travel and accessibility for eyewitnesses

Honoraria or gifts of appreciation

Event or workshop organization

Publication or dissemination of results

Apply for grants (e.g. civic education, cultural memory, youth programs).

8. Digital and Accessibility Infrastructure
Website or platform for publishing content (GDPR-compliant).

Subtitles, translations, easy language versions if needed.

Accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities.

9. Ethics and Data Protection
Ensure informed consent and ethical handling of sensitive personal stories.

Transparent use and storage of materials (especially if published).

Respectful narrative framing: avoid sensationalism, ensure dignity.

10. Evaluation and Sustainability
Collect feedback from participants and audiences.

Document learning outcomes and project impact.

Plan for long-term access (e.g. archiving in schools, libraries, digital platforms).

Develop follow-up modules, repeat formats, or training programs.