From November 11th to 16th 2024, long-standing guests came to Krzyżowa again: German linguistic students from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and the Ivan Franko University in Lviv as well as pupils from the Hannah Arendt vocational schools in Hannover. The traditional theme of the meeting was “Migration - Migration movements in Europe” and the participants learned, discussed and exchanged in small international groups during the workshops about their own family migration stories, the migration history of the von Moltke family and the regional migration history of Lower Silesia after 1945, as well as the current situation in the participants' countries, Germany, Poland and Ukraine.
Read more: Exchange on the topic of migration
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From March 3rd to 8th, 2025, the international TRIYOU youth exchange took place in Krzyżowa, bringing together participants from Wolsztyn, Uelzen, and Jabłonów. This year's edition had a particularly historical focus. The workshops, led by trainers Anna Huminiak and Martyna Sidorowicz, centered on reflecting on history and its impact on the present.
One of the key elements of the program was collaboration with the Gross-Rosen Museum in Rogoźnica, which included a workshop in Krzyżowa titled “(In)nocent? Paths to Enslavement”. Participants worked with survivor testimonies, helping them to better understand the tragic fate of the victims of totalitarian regimes.
The next day, the group visited the former Gross-Rosen concentration camp, which was a deeply moving experience. After the tour, they took part in a reflection session, where they shared their emotions, thoughts, and analyzed the significance of this site in the context of today's social challenges.
To support the youth in expressing their emotions and openly discussing difficult topics, artistic workshops were organized. One of them was the creation of a "time capsule", where participants wrote letters to their future selves. Additionally, capoeira classes led by the Perun Martial Arts Academy brought energy and joy into the intensive program.
The trainers introduced innovative relationship-building methods, including the use of WhatsApp, which was enthusiastically received by the participants. Equally important were biographical-method workshops focused on the themes of "Diversity and Migration".
A youth exchange, where teachers and participants from different countries learn together and create a space for reflection, is the best proof that history can not only teach us but also bring us together.
We look forward to future meetings in Krzyżowa, where young people can not only explore history but also build a shared future based on dialogue and mutual respect.
The TRIYOU exchange was coordinated by Tetiana Hrebenkina (Likhtar-Krzyżowa project). The project was supported by ESC volunteers Ahsen Akilli and Cansu Elif Aktas. The event was organized with the support of the German-Polish Youth Office (GPYO).
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12 vocational school students from Konin and 12 vocational school students from Herne met from February 16th to 23rd in Krzyżowa for the second part of a two-part youth exchange, the first part of which took place at the Jugendakademie Walberberg in North Rhine-Westphalia. During the 9-day program, the youth were able to prepare for their future career paths, confront their own boundaries, examine discriminatory behaviors, cook together, go on trips to interesting places, and deepen their friendships.
Read more: Professional development and dialogue: Polish-German youth exchange in Krzyżowa
