I believe that literature is an excellent way to engage teenagers in conversations about difficult pasts. However, what truly enhances this experience is incorporating their own family stories.

D.J. Grabowski, an external PhD Candidate affiliated with the AHM Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture - Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture (AHM) - University of Amsterdam, is an educator deeply committed to integrating memory studies and historical reflection into the classroom. He has crafted a curriculum that encourages students to engage with personal and collective histories through literature, self-reflection, and creative expression. With a keen understanding of memory’s role in shaping values and beliefs, DJG guides students in exploring familial and historical narratives, helping them confront complex themes such as war, trauma, identity, and intergenerational silence. His approach emphasizes both academic rigor and an environment that empowers students to ask difficult questions and forge meaningful connections to their past.

Through innovative projects, such as oral examinations reimagined as "memory finals," DJG invites students to step into the role of interviewers, fostering a compassionate and analytical perspective on the challenging truths within their family histories. This methodology bridges the gap between traditional education and self-discovery, positioning students as active participants in a dialogue with the past.

An advocate of interdisciplinary learning, DJG collaborates closely with colleagues and draws on insights from psychology, trauma studies, and other fields to enrich the classroom experience. His unique teaching methods not only reshape students' understanding of history but also inspire a view of education as a powerful tool for personal growth and social empathy. Bringing an open mind and passionate dedication to each project, DJG continually explores ways to make memory studies a transformative experience in his students’ educational journey.

Public Workshop: Listening to Testimonies of Mass Atrocities - NIOD

AHM Annual Conference 2024 Research-Teaching-Society Nexus

• Heritage, Art and Young Generations [Chair: Mehmet Sulek & Dawid Grabowski] Roundtable discussion: “Children in Art Spaces”

2022 AHM Conference “Witnessing, Memory, and Crisis”

• Forms of Memory Activism: Pedagogical Witnesses Who Matter: "The New Knights in the Fight Against the Green Dragon"