ask your grandparents

Winners announced for the "Ask Your Grandparents 2" competition

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The Institute for Democracy, Media & Culture (IDMC) in collaboration with Albania's Association of Teachers of History "Youth & History" announced the winners of the "Ask Your Grandparents 2" multimedia competition. The ceremony marked the successful closure of the second edition of the eight-day "MEMORY DAYS" event. Over 250 young people from across Albania applied in this competition with over 100 works, but only 33 young people managed to be awarded prizes thanks to their teamwork. After about two months of competition, the jury decided to reward 8 main prizes (a consolation price, a social network price, 3 third prizes, 2 second prizes and 1 first prize).

The ceremony was greeted by IDMC director, Jonila Godole, who greatly appreciated the commitment of young people in this competition, emphasizing that “everyone was a winner, as through this participation they have been able to reflect on the past, what exactly has been the focus of this organization."

The large turnout was also praised by the director of German Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Albania, Walter Glos, which has supported the competition since its inception. He added that raising awareness and reflection of young people on the past is also a priority for KAS, so it will continue to support this competition further. This year's competition was hailed from Tel Aviv (Israel) by Erlisa Kulla, who was the winner of the previous edition.

The jury that evaluated the works consisted of honorable personalities from media, science and culture, such as Ilva Tare, a journalist for more than 20 years, leading the "Tonight" show in Ora News TV; Ylljet Aliçka, author and dedicated lecturer at the Academy of Arts, with a long experience in cinematography, as well as Fatmiroshe Xhemalaj, a history expert and EUROCLIO ambassador (European Association of History Educators) in Albania. In her greeting, she encouraged young people to continue this reflection initiative as "only by knowing the past can we understand the present". Aliçka said he had gladly followed all the works of the participants, while Tare said she was impressed and confident in the younger generation's future.

Prizes

Multimedia entry "I am..." won IDMC jury's first prize, a work by Elios Shuli, Marta Gështenja, Renis Lami, Gentian Kojeli and Eri Alla from "Sami Frashëri" high school in Tirana. "I am..." was applauded by more than 200 attendees in the room. Winners of the first prize will already have the opportunity of a trip to Germany to visit sites of memory there, while the IDMC director promised that the winning work would also be displayed to the German public. The two second places will win a study trip to the sites of memory in Albania, to be organized by IDMC, and book discount coupons. The three third places and the social network prize will join the study trip to Albania, along with the winners of the consolation prize, as well as get book coupons from Bukinist.al.

The winners were awarded prizes for the following entries:

1st Place

For dealing with the communist past through a fairly artistic and historical reflection that conveys powerful civic messages in building the future.

Multimedia entry: "I Am…"

  1. Elios Shuli
  2. Marta GĂ«shtenja
  3. Renis Lami
  4. Gentian Kojeli
  5. Eri Alla

2nd Place

For dealing with the communist past through an original choice of everyday life in communism that reflects the depth of the communist dictatorship up to the cell.

Multimedia entry: "A Step Towards the Light"

  1. Enis Kalemi
  2. Sindi Leka
  3. Endi Baxhaja

2nd Place

For dealing with the communist past through a historical-artistic reflection that shows the "imprisonment" of people, from childhood through brainwashing.

Multimedia entry: "Imprisoned – Without Prison"

  1. Martina Ramadani
  2. Saidi Lamçe
  3. Xhevair Pelivani
  4. Spiro Frashëri
  5. Laura Kadena

3rd Place

For dealing with the communist past where the suffering of Albanians is shown due to the development of the class struggle and the spying system, through oral history testimonies.

Multimedia entry: "Lifestyles in Times of Communism"

  1. Alesia Baca
  2. Kejsona Idrizi
  3. Xheraldo Kurti
  4. MĂ«rgim Kurmeka

3rd Place

For dealing with the communist past through an artistic exploration that highlights youth experiences in the dictatorship, where among other things foreign music was forbidden.

Multimedia entry: "Foreign Music in the Dictatorship…"

  1. Aldi Hidi
  2. Zhaklina Elezaj
  3. Aldo Dervishi
  4. Aranit Lleshi
  5. Donaldo Biba

3rd Place

For dealing with the communist past through treating personal objects as historical sources that provide an original view of life in the dictatorship.

Multimedia entry: "Back in His Time"

  • Anxhela Shehi

Consolation Prize by the "Association of History Teachers"

For dealing with the communist past through treatment of the Labinot women life in the cooperative, offering an original view of life in the dictatorship.

Multimedia entry: "The Labinoti Woman – A Born Slave"

  1. Ardit Allushi
  2. Aurora Çili
  3. Denada Hoxha
  4. Jonida Skorra
  5. Jonida Leçaj

Web Prize

The most liked entry on Facebook.

Multimedia entry: "Ask Your Grandmother"

  1. Anxhelo Zuno
  2. Endi Qose
  3. Kleida Dervishi
  4. Xhuliana Xhaferaj