Schools require various programs to help children learn about society and culture, and cemeteries can offer an unexpected yet powerful experience.

Since the future of cemeteries depends on the attitude that these children will develop, experiencing cemeteries as cultural heritage of their city may change their perspective so that they will be keener to support the preservation of cemeteries and other relevant projects.

For this reason, the main theme of this year's Week of Discovering European Cemeteries is “Schools on Cemeteries”.

About the WDEC

Week of Discovering European Cemeteries (WDEC) is the biggest and most important annual project and event, organized by the Association of Significant Cemeteries of Europe (ASCE), whose purpose is to expose cemeteries in a different perspective to all their visitors. During this week, significant cemeteries from various cities across Europe organize exhibitions, concerts, guided tours, seminars, workshops, and other interesting activities that mostly take place in the cemeteries themselves.

WDEC 2022: Schools on Cemeteries

This year's WDEC will take place from May 30th to June 5th with the central theme being "Schools on Cemeteries". The goal is to highlight the historical, artistic, architectural, and educational richness that these spaces have.

Instead of traditional classes in school, students can have cemeteries as their classrooms, and enjoy a cultural week of activities which involves listening, learning, and interacting with history in a different and interesting way. The experience of walking through a cemetery and discovering the diversity of stories and meanings behind the graves and tombstones, is a stimulating, creative, challenging, and intriguing activity that can take students to another level of critical thinking and reflection on cultural heritage and their lives.

Schools on Cemeteries project

Schools on cemeteries is not a new idea. European cemeteries Route (CEMR), which was created under the auspices of ASCE, started this project years ago and many European cemeteries have already started to implement such projects in collaboration with local schools. You can read more about it HERE. Furthermore, on THIS LINK you can find a short video of European Cemeteries Route working with schools.

Since we strongly believe that schools on cemeteries are one of the best ways to preserve and promote cultural heritage, this will be an area of focus which will be intensively developed during the year and beyond.