In this year’s fifth edition of the competition, one hundred students from primary schools and lower-secondary schools across the county took part. “Preserving Time” is organized by the County Centre for Education and Staff Training with the support of the municipal authorities and the Bolesławiec Senior Citizens’ Council. Thirty-one young writers advanced to the county stage. Nine qualified for the grand final.
The jury consisted of teachers and methodologists with many years of experience. They assessed not only creativity, but also linguistic correctness and vocabulary. The youngest participants (students in grades III–IV) described the history of their grandparents while looking at family photographs. The middle group (grades V–VI) was tasked with stepping into their grandparents’ shoes and describing the world through their eyes. The oldest participants (grades VII–III of lower-secondary school) wrote short stories.
“Many of these works are masterpieces worthy of children’s talent and abilities,” said Bolesławiec Deputy Mayor Kornel Filipowicz during the awards ceremony. “We are facing a clear crisis of values. Young people are searching, often desperately, for something they can rely on, something on which they can build their personality and identity. The best foundation is a healthy, self-respecting family with its unique history.”
How fortunate are the children who know their grandparents, talk with them, respect one another and learn about their family history. After all, every family’s history is a tiny part of the history of the region and Poland.
“The aim of this competition is to counter aggression against elderly, disabled and lost people,” said Eugenia Wolska of the Bolesławiec Senior Citizens’ Council. “The content of the works is impressive. The young people described the lives of their ancestors who settled in the county after the war—their real, often very difficult and impoverished lives. These works contain the truth itself. They are beautiful literary works and very linguistically correct.”
The children wrote their works directly in front of the competition committee; no one corrected their mistakes or gave them hints.
Eugenia Wolska emphasized how meticulous, even journalistic, a task the children had to undertake to gather the necessary information. It was also rewarding work for both sides. It required meetings and long conversations between the children and the elders of their families. Such meetings are becoming increasingly rare. Families are growing apart, swept up in the pace of life. And memories—those no one has listened to or written down—are passing away.
Winners of the 5th County Literary Competition “Preserving Time”
- Group I (grades III–IV):
- Milena Mrożek – Primary School No. 1
- Zofia Orawiec – Nowogrodziec Primary School
- Malwina Hołyna – Nowogrodziec Primary School
- Group II (grades V–VI):
- Milena Konieczna – Nowogrodziec Primary School
- Anna Auda – Primary School No. 1
- Dariusz Czajkowski – Nowogrodziec Primary School
- Group III (grades VII–VIII and grade III of lower-secondary school):
- Julianna Szafrańska – Primary School No. 4
- Wiktoria Szadkowska – Osiecznica School Complex
- Karolina Fila – Primary School No. 1.
The winning group was prepared by: Maria Przewoźnik, Małgorzata Jakubowska, Janina Kotwica, Wioletta Chlastawa, Monika Grygorcewicz, Barbara Piękny.