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At the beginning of March, students from the English Grammar School in Riga visited the pupils of the Klax School as part of the Erasmus+ project. The aim of the Erasmus+ project is to promote intercultural exchange and establish a long-term school partnership between Riga and Berlin.
The exchange focussed on historical topics, in particular the past of the GDR and the Cold War period. To this end, Year 12 pupils from the advanced history and political science courses organised a project week together with the guests from Riga. Despite the geographical distance, there is a historical connection: While Latvia was part of the Soviet Union until 1991, East Berlin was part of the GDR - so both places were part of what was then known as the Eastern Bloc.
The project week focussed on examining life in the GDR, the role of state security and the Berlin Wall as a symbol of Germany's division. Excursions brought history to life: a guided bike tour along the former Berlin Wall, visits to the Stasi Museum and the former Stasi prison enabled the pupils to engage intensively with the topic.
Based on these experiences, the young people conducted interviews at Pankow S-Bahn station. They asked passers-by about their everyday experiences in the GDR and the social changes since reunification. The results formed a good basis for in-depth discussions between the Latvian and German pupils about how to deal with historical upheavals.
The project week was an enriching experience for all participants and contributed to a deeper understanding of the historical developments in both countries. A visit by the Berlin pupils to Riga is planned for the coming school year in order to continue the dialogue and further develop the school partnership.
(Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.)
