The beginning of March marks the start of the school stage of the fifth, jubilee edition of the nationwide genealogy competition “Without Roots You Will Not Blossom. My Great and Little Homeland.” The organizers stress that this is the last moment to register, as from March 9 to 16, 2026, school committees will select the entries that advance to the next stage of the competition.
The competition is addressed to students in grades 4–8 of primary schools and their teachers. Participants are tasked with preparing a family tree and a presentation telling the story of their family and its ties to the local community. The organizers point out that the project is not only educational in nature, but also helps young people better understand their own identity and the history of their region.
An important piece of information for students and parents is that the competition is included on the list of competitions for which education authorities award points. This means that its results may be taken into account during recruitment to secondary schools, increasing its educational significance.
This year’s edition also introduces a comprehensive genealogy video guide prepared by competition ambassador Natalia Lipowicz in cooperation with experts from the State Archives. The material explains in an accessible way how to begin genealogical research, where to look for information about ancestors and how to develop a competition project.
The previous edition of the competition attracted considerable interest. In 2025, as many as 684 entries were submitted by 370 primary schools from across Poland. Students prepared, among other things, digital family trees, documentaries, podcasts and projects using archival photographs.
The final of this year’s edition is scheduled for June 12, 2026, in Białystok. The event is being coordinated by the State Archive in Białystok and the State Archive in Suwałki, which are organizing the competition final jointly for the first time.
The organizers encourage schools, teachers and students to take part in the project, emphasizing that genealogy is becoming an increasingly popular way of learning about history. The competition is intended to provide an opportunity not only to gain knowledge, but also to talk with relatives, discover family documents and learn about the history of one’s own region.
More information and the detailed competition schedule can be found at www.archiwarodzinne.gov.pl/konkurs