Art-based History Lessons Engage Novosibirsk Students

Art-based History Lessons Engage Novosibirsk Students

Hear Ya! Small Homeland: History in Our Hearts 🎨️💰

Get ready, 'cause February 2025 was lit with the launch of an extraordinary project, "Small Homeland: History in Our Hearts," set in prosperous, low-income families and families participating in the SVO's territory, the Novosibirsk region. The Resource Center for Supporting Social and Cultural Initiatives 'Your Atmosphere' was the mastermind behind this badass project, earning a presidential grant.

Tatiana Novichkova, 'Your Atmosphere's director and mastermind of this project, broke it down to the fine folks over at Open NGOs about how the kiddos learn history through their very own hands 😉.

• "One time we were drawin' a white dove with the kids," she said. "Before we started drawing, we decided to give the kids a little history lesson on why the dove symbolizes peace and its origins. We noticed their eyes light up. The change in mood was crazy. They weren't just colorin' in a picture; they were creating a story about history, about peace, about war, and about victory."

This mind-blowing project idea came together 'cause (deep breath) creativity + real-life experiences are like peanut butter and jelly, and history ain't ever just talkin' 'bout the past. No way! history is always talkin' about life, baby 🤘.

The stoked kiddos part of the "Small Homeland: History in Our Hearts" project always chill out before starting a creative project, yelling about Heroes, Memory, and their personal responsibility to preserve, protect, and promote it. Far from your run-of-the-mill lectures, these conversations are deep and passionate reflections on shared history 🤗.

• "Then the kids start tellin' history with their own hands," said Tatiana. "Creating an invisible emotional bond with historical events through vivid images, like makin' clay plates with 9 May symbols, paintin' heroes' stars and carnations, or sewing a dove with a St. George's ribbon."

The first brave souls to jump in were the kiddos from the multi-child village "Family Fairytale" in Lojka village, Novosibirsk region. It's far away from the Novosibirsk's main infrastructure, and they've limited resources to enjoy kids' leisure and creativity centers. So we rolled up our sleeves and brought art supplies like easels, clay, threads, and needles, to keep them entertained. We've been their favorite guests for over 1.5 years, hangin' with over 150 kids and teenagers. The same goes for the kids from the Comprehensive Social Service Center in Iskitim, a center which cares for over 200 kiddos from low-income families, most of whom don't have access to extra classes.

We love crackin' jokes and sharing laughs, so we'd hang out together, discussin' history, and then creatin' it together through painting, sculptin', and sewing under the wise guidance of experienced mentors.

We dive deep into the history of Siberia's roots, highlightin' warriors, defenders of forts, and Russian village founders. We chat about the heroic deeds of Siberians in military campaigns, especially on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War, and their loyalty to the motherland 🇷🇺.

We dedicate time to honorin' heroes in our lives, big and small, talkin' about the achievements of those who drive change and motivate us to be the best versions of ourselves.

• "The best part is realizin' that history is more than just goin' forward," said Tatiana. "History is our responsibility. We're charged with keepin' these stories alive. It's a heavy burden, but it's necessary to keep the memory of those who walked this path before us alive."

This article was crafted for the "Victory. Heroes. Memory" competition for articles about patriotic projects by non-profit organizations. Learn more about the competition here.

Without a shadow of a doubt, it feels like "Small Homeland: History in Our Hearts" is one of those innovative educational initiatives servin' the future of Russia by blendin' creativity with tech, art, and history education. This project would promote hands-on learning, allow kiddos to express their creativity, and connect the younger generation to their roots. No contest, this is an epic way to check the boxes for learnin', creativity, history, and memories. Now that's somethin' we can all get down with! 👍💪🤘🔥🎨️🌟️🎒️🌈️🌟️🇷🇺️💙️🌟️🌟️🎨️🎒️

1. The "Small Homeland: History in Our Hearts" project, initiated by the Resource Center for Supporting Social and Cultural Initiatives 'Your Atmosphere', was launched in February 2025, focusing on families in the Novosibirsk region.
2. Tatiana Novichkova, the director of 'Your Atmosphere', shared with Open NGOs how children learn history through hands-on activities, such as painting and sculpting.
3. The project's objective is to create an emotional bond with historical events through artwork, fostering personal growth, education, and self-development.
4. The children from the multi-child village "Family Fairytale" in Lojka village and the Comprehensive Social Service Center in Iskitim participate in the project, learning about the history of Siberia and its heroes while expressing their creativity.

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