Exarc Member Dasha Derzhavets Launches “Ouroboros” to Reconnect Youth with the Past of South Holland
At a time when digital innovation increasingly shapes heritage education in the Netherlands, EXARC member Dasha Derzhavets is championing a return to hands-on discovery. Her new initiative, Ouroboros: Experiencing the Past, Shaping the Future, places craft, experimentation and identity formation at the heart of cultural learning for young people.
Drawing on years of experience as a nature educator, social worker, teacher, craftswoman and archaeologist, Dasha is organising a series of workshops aimed at engaging young people aged 12 to 21 with the cultural heritage of South Holland. Currently teaching at the John Dewey College, she has observed first-hand that while museums and schools increasingly adopt AI and VR technologies, opportunities for young people to truly explore historical crafts through touch, effort and experimentation remain limited.
Her project seeks to complement digital approaches with multisensory, project-based learning. Rooted in the philosophy of Project-Based Learning (PBL), the workshops will invite participants to recreate archaeological artefacts from prehistory to the Roman period. By borrowing original examples of pottery, flint, bone and wood, participants will closely study objects that represent key transitional phases in the early habitation history of South Holland, particularly how communities adapted to living with water.
One group of participants will focus on producing replicas using clay, wood, plant-based materials and flint, working with minimal but essential guidance from material specialists and archaeologists. A second group will test the usability and durability of these reproductions, employing them in tasks such as plant gathering and water transport to better understand prehistoric survival strategies.
Central to Dasha’s approach is the idea that mistakes are not setbacks but necessary steps toward insight. Participants will document their sensory observations, technical challenges and creative solutions, taking full ownership of their process. The project will culminate in a joint exhibition where replicas, alternative constructions and even modern adaptations will be presented alongside personal learning reflections.
Beyond craft skills, the initiative aims to strengthen identity formation and civic awareness. By reflecting on historical labour processes and comparing them with contemporary energy-use patterns, young participants will develop a deeper understanding of both past and present. The workshops will also explore the physical effort involved in traditional techniques, incorporating time measurements, qualitative interviews and potential methods for assessing exertion.
In an era of increasingly virtual engagement, Dasha’s Ouroboros project offers a powerful reminder: understanding the past is not only about seeing it on a screen, but about feeling it in your hands.
The workshops will take place at Leiden University in the upcoming months. Dasha is currently looking for three volunteers and two experts to support the sessions and contribute their knowledge during the practical and analytical phases of the project. Those interested are invited to read the full project profile and connect directly with Dasha at dashaderzh@gmail.com.
EXARC is also happy to contribute to the project and will support Dasha with the recruitment of staff and the sourcing of materials needed for the workshops. Laura Fernández-Pampillón Enguix, EXARC’s Finance Manager, and Federico Cappadona, EXARC’s Communications Manager, will also assist with the dissemination and outreach of the project, using the organization’s social media platforms to promote this important initiative.