«Azure Victory»: Results Announced for a Joint Project Between the Zonal State Archive in Molodechno and the «Zubryonok» National Children’s Educational and Recreational Center

The «You and I Are One Family» themed session has concluded at the «Zubryonok» National Children’s Educational and Recreational Center, bringing together young participants from every corner of Belarus. The program was rich and multifaceted, featuring contests, meetings with notable figures, explorations of the historical and cultural heritage of the Naroch region, and a variety of creative and educational activities.

A significant new element was the involvement of the participants in the «Archival Bulletin» media project, organized by the Zonal State Archive in MolodechNo.Members from six different groups worked with archival documents, examined historical sources, and produced their own research-based videos on the history of Belarus.

Inna Pudakevich, Director of the archive, served as a jury member for the session, while archivists led workshops for the «Zubryonok» participants on how to engage with historical sources. Special emphasis was placed on the methodology of archival research—teaching the students how to formulate inquiries, cross-reference information across multiple sources, and properly cite archival reference codes in their research work.

The young authors explored topics rarely addressed by schoolchildren, including the history of the land where «Zubryonok» is now located, 19ad-century fishing practices in the Naroch region, the origins of the creative work of Yanka Kupala and Maksim Tank, the life and career of People’s Artist of Belarus Vasily Sharangovich, and the partisan trails of the Myadzel region.

Following the project presentations, the jury selected a winner: a research-based video project titled «Passing Through Fidelity» («Prajsci praz vernasc»), dedicated to the poet Maksim Tank and created by members of the 6th «Lazurny» (Azure) detachment. A standout feature of the project was its use of not only archival documents and historical sites but also firsthand accounts—the young researchers even conducted an interview with the poet’s granddaughter.

This research-focused session was merely the first phase of a larger project. Soon, a media-themed session will begin at the «Zubryonok» center, where young directors, cinematographers, and editors will build upon these well-developed, route-based scripts to produce full-fledged documentary films. In the meantime, we invite you to take a look at this initial effort from our young researchers.

Pictured: During the awards ceremony