CHIBOW early stage researcher participates in discussion at Latvia's National Library

On February the 15th, Oskars Gruziņš, member of the European Union’s Marie Curie Initial Training Network, “Children born of war – past, present and future project,” from the University of Latvia, participated at a discussion titled “Between Glorification and Silence: what is remembered and forgotten in Latvian culture” at Latvia’s National Library.

During the discussion, Prof. Dr.hist. Vita Zelče, Dr.phil. Skaidrīte Lasmane, Dr.sc.comm. Laura Ardava, Dr.sc.comm. Didzis Bērzinš, Dr.sc.soc. Jurijs Ņikišins, Dr.art. Zane Radzobe, , Mg.sc.soc. Aija Rozenšteine along with Oskars presented on topics which focused on the glorification of memories and on topics which continue to be surrounded by silence in Latvian history. Oskars, who is working on a study of the children born of Third Reich and Soviet soldiers in World War Two Latvia, presented his project and the findings he has made so far. His presentation focused on earlier studies of CBOW in Europe and how their findings and challenges relate to his study in Latvia.

In discussing his topic, Oskars shared with the audience aspects of earlier studies, their outcomes and how these studies were also presented with the challenge of silence. Oskars discussed the social taboo, which seems to still surround the topic of CBOW in Latvia, and how this has affected his ongoing study. Members of the audience expressed their reaction to Oskars project and one potential participant for his study was identified. In all, the audience actively participated in the event and expressed keen interest in the different topics discussed.

Oskars study is a part of the “Children born of war – past, present and future project,” which is a Horizon 2020 plan composed of 15 early stage researchers, 11 organizations, 12 partner organizations, with an aim at “understanding the challenges of CBOW in volatile societies [that] will inform the normative debates and, ultimately, policies on the reintegration of CBOW into post-conflict societies.” To learn more about the project and Oskars work, please follow this link www.CHIBOW.org