Training for the participants of the project “Righteous in Polish schools”

The training was part of the project “Righteous in Polish Schools”, conducted by the program “Polish Righteous – Recalling Forgotten History” of  the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

In this event participated 27 teachers from all parts of Poland, among other towns from Świnoujście, Tarnów, Kielce, Piotrków Trybunalski and Lublin.

The participants were able to see a virtual exhibition, which will be used as an educational tool in the project. The exhibition presents stories of the Righteous illustrated with short films, audio and video materials and archival photos.

A separate module is devoted to the subject of hiding in the countryside and in town, it presents hiding places on the so-called "Aryan side" - this part of the interactive exhibition is illustrated with drawings by Pola Dwurnik. The virtual exhibition, used as an interactive medium, will be recorded on CD’s and sent to the schools taking part in the program “Righteous in Polish Schools”.

The participants of the training had the opportunity to participate in a workshop conducted by Katarzyna Kulińska from the Educational Center of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, based on educational materials devoted to the stories of the Polish Righteous. These materials will soon be made available on the portal www.sprawiedliwi.org.pl in the “Educational Programs” section. 

During the training there was also a discussion with Anna Bando, chairwoman of the Polish Society of the Righteous Among the Nations, and Krystyna Budnicka, member of the Association of “Children of the Holocaust” in Poland. The discussion was moderated by Katarzyna Kulińska. The interlocutors told their stories from the time of the Second World War, presented their current activity and shared their experiences connected with meetings with young people.

The fact that the teachers were very satisfied with the training was proved by the high marks they gave on their evaluation cards. The main goal of this event was to prepare educators to preserve the memory of the Polish Righteous, to help them organize “The Day of the Righteous” in their schools, and to present to the teachers the subject of the Righteous, educational materials and methods of working with students.

The project “Righteous in Polish Schools” is an effect of our belief that acts of people who risked their lives and the lives of their families to save another person are a perfect model in patriotic education and help preserve the historical bond between generations.

We would like to help schools to reach the witnesses of history and to make it possible for them to organize “Days of the Righteous” – meetings of students with unknown heroes, often close neighbors.

The project is financially supported by the Governmental Program - Civic Initiatives Fund.