From Remembrance to Digital Citizenship: Reflections from the European Remembrance Symposium 2026
29-05-2026
Between 27 and 29 May 2026, GEYC participated in the 14th European Remembrance Symposium, organised by the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity (ENRS) in Bratislava, Slovakia. This year's edition, titled "Memory Wars: Facts, Disinformation, and the Politics of Remembrance", brought together educators, researchers, civil society organisations and memory institutions from across Europe to discuss the growing challenges surrounding historical narratives, disinformation and democratic resilience.
The symposium explored how collective memory shapes societies, identities and political debates, but also how it can be manipulated, instrumentalised and weaponised in an increasingly polarised information environment. Discussions focused on the intersection between historical memory, public discourse and democratic participation, highlighting the importance of critical thinking and media literacy in contemporary Europe.
As part of the programme, our colleague Alexandra Peca, Head of Youth Empowerment, had the opportunity to present #InVizită, one of GEYC's longest-running educational initiatives.
Launched by GEYC in 2016, #InVizită was created with a simple idea: some lessons cannot be fully understood from a classroom or a textbook.
Through guided visits to institutions, museums, memorial sites and other places of civic and historical significance, the initiative encourages young people to engage directly with topics such as history, remembrance, democratic participation and civic responsibility.
Over the years, #InVizită has transformed learning into experience, allowing participants to connect abstract concepts with real places, real stories and real people. Whether exploring democratic institutions, sites of memory or organisations working for social change, participants are invited to reflect on the connections between the past, the present and their own role as active citizens.
Presenting the initiative at the European Remembrance Symposium offered an opportunity to exchange practices with organisations from across Europe and to showcase how experiential learning can contribute to strengthening democratic values.
Why this matters for PRISMA
At first glance, remembrance education and digital citizenship may seem like separate fields. However, the discussions in Bratislava reinforced how closely connected they have become.
One of the key themes of the symposium was the growing challenge of historical disinformation. Across Europe, false narratives, conspiracy theories and attempts to distort historical facts increasingly circulate through digital platforms, influencing public debates and democratic processes.
Addressing these challenges requires more than historical knowledge. It requires the ability to critically assess information, verify sources, understand context and recognise manipulation techniques - all core competences of digital citizenship.
These connections are also reflected in the activities implemented through the PRISMA Framework for Digital Democracy and Citizenship. During the Romanian National Digital Democracy Labs, participants explored historical disinformation and Holocaust distortion through source analysis exercises based on the CRAAP methodology. By comparing credible academic sources with misleading or extremist narratives, young people developed practical skills for evaluating information and identifying manipulation in digital environments.
The experience in Bratislava confirmed that remembrance education and digital citizenship share a common objective: empowering individuals to engage critically with information, understand the social impact of narratives and participate responsibly in democratic life.
Looking ahead
The European Remembrance Symposium provided valuable inspiration for future PRISMA activities and reinforced the importance of connecting historical awareness with contemporary digital challenges.
As digital technologies continue to shape how societies remember, debate and interpret the past, initiatives such as #InVizită and the PRISMA Framework demonstrate that education remains one of the most powerful tools for building democratic resilience.
By helping young people understand both history and the digital environments in which historical narratives circulate today, we can contribute to a more informed, critical and participatory society.