Ventures into Histroy
Foto: John Loftus
Children from the age of eight from different European cultures in the town of Schwerte will be using a historic game to learn more about the history of the town and the hardships of emigration and immigration.
The game leads children into the middle of the 19th century, when the Industrial Revolution produced a huge need for workers within a few years, and resulted in an explosion in the population of Schwerte from 3,000 to over 12,000. It goes without saying that the arrival of so many immigrants at the same time produced a lot of social, economic, cultural and religious tensions. It was not only the immigrants who were losing their "home", the town of Schwerte was completely transformed in a very short period of time. The game will reproduce this situation. Children will be taken back in time to the world of work, business and society in a historic setting. Here they will learn handicrafts, trade in products, prepare meals and thereby earn their daily bread for their families. In doing so the children will be told nothing about the course of the coming events in the game, and their possible effects on social cohesion. Their reactions and behaviour, however can have an influence on the fi nal historic outcome.
Events:
March 29 - April 3, 2010: "RÖMER UND GERMANEN"
October 11 - 19, 2010: "HANSEZEIT"
Project:
John Loftus, Kultur- und Weiterbildungs-Betrieb, Ruhrtalmuseum, Schwerte (D) / Paul Röllke, Basel (CH) / Regina Loftus, Schwerte (D)
Partner:
Cava de’ Tirreni (I) / Nowy Sacz (PL) / Schwerte (D) Lions Club Schwerte / Rotary Club Schwerte/Ruhr / Förderverein Ruhrtalmuseum e.V.