“On the Road to FREEDOM”

The Alūksne District Museum, in cooperation with the Education Department of the Alūksne District Municipality and history teachers from Alūksne District, announces the student research competition “On the Road to FREEDOM”, inviting students from general education institutions to explore the significance of the idea of freedom in Latvian history and in people’s life stories.

The competition entries should focus on understanding the idea of FREEDOM, its manifestations and significance in the historical experiences of individuals, families or lineages. Students are invited to research the fates of specific people and their actions in the name of freedom during various periods of Latvian history – during the Latvian War of Independence, the years of the Second World War, the period of repression under totalitarian regimes, the national resistance movement, the activities of dissidents, as well as the processes of the Third Awakening and the path to the restoration of Latvia’s independence.

The aim of the competition is to strengthen students’ civic awareness, historical memory and sense of belonging to Latvia by promoting an understanding of democratic values, human rights and the individual’s responsibility to society. At the same time, the competition develops students’ research, analytical and creative skills, encouraging independent work with various historical sources and the creative presentation of their conclusions.

The competition is open to students in Years 7–9 (Group 1) and Years 10–12 (Group 2).

Entries may be prepared individually or in groups of up to three students, with each participant’s contribution clearly indicated.

A competition entry consists of a research section and a creative section (video, presentation, drawing, collage, essay, poem, song, etc.). The research section must be submitted electronically by 20 March 2026 to muzejs@aluksne.lv or in person at the Alūksne District Museum. The creative section will be presented on the day of the competition.

The competition’s final event and presentation of the entries will take place on 25 March 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at the Alūksne District Museum (74 Pils Street, Alūksne).

The entries will be evaluated by a specially appointed committee comprising representatives of the Alūksne District Museum, the Education Department of the Alūksne District Municipality and the “Sarma” Club of the Politically Repressed of Alūksne District, as well as an invited expert. The evaluation will take into account both the quality of the research work and its compliance with the requirements, as well as the content, technical execution and originality of the creative presentation.

All competition participants will receive certificates and prizes, while the participant with the highest score in each age group will receive a special prize.