On the participation of the State Archives of the Gomel Region in a district dialogue platform as part of the national campaign «Archives for Schools»

On February 20, 2026, the State Archives of the Gomel Region participated in the district dialogue platform «Serving the Motherland Is a Sacred Deed» at Secondary School No.11 of Gomel. The dialogue platform brought together high school students from various city schools and representatives of city authorities, archival and museum staff. The topic of discussion was the importance of preserving historical memory in modern society. The following served as experts: Deputy Head of the Central District Administration of Gomel, O.A.Dotsenko; Director of the State Archives of the Gomel Region, Yu.V. Shestopalov; Senior Researcher at the Archive, M.V.Vashchenko; and Deputy Director of the Gomel Regional Museum of Military Glory, K.S.Mishchenko.

Yuri Vasilyevich Shestopalov, Director of the State Archives of the Gomel Region, spoke on the importance of archival work in preserving historical memory and the importance of passing on documentary heritage to the younger generation. Addressing the students, Yuri Vasilyevich said:

«It is thanks to the work of archivists that we have been able to preserve unique evidence of the formation of our state and the Great Patriotic War. Preserving the memory of the past is the foundation of the future. Pay close attention to historical information posted online, learn to think and analyze historical facts».

Maia Valentinovna Vashchenko, Senior Researcher at the Archives, presented the documentary exhibition project «Unconquered Gomel Region» to the participants of the dialogue platform. She explained that this project was created based on documents from state archives and museums of Belarus. The documents reflected in the project chronologically connect the events from the occupation of Gomel by the Nazi invaders to its complete liberation. A special place in the exhibition is given to documents on the genocide of the Belarusian people. Maya Valentinovna also presented documents from the Central Archives of the Russian Ministry of Defense from the Great Patriotic War on the heroism of Soviet soldiers, which were provided under an archival cooperation agreement. These documents bear witness to the heroic deeds of the miners who liberated the Motherland from the enemy.

Konstantin Sergeyevich Mishchenko, Deputy Director of the Gomel Regional Museum of Military Glory, spoke about the work of preserving historical relics and invited participants to the opening of the new exhibition «About Courage, Valor, and Glory».

The lively dialogue format allowed the students not only to listen but also to express themselves. The students spoke about their research work, their participation in projects, and their support for school museums of military glory.

1. Opening of the dialogue platform

2. Speech by O.A.Dotsenko, Deputy Head of the Gomel Central District Administration

3. Speech by Yu.V.Shestopalov

4. K.S.Mishchenko discusses the museum exhibits

5-6. Students from Gomel schools at a dialogue platform