Empathetic Communication and the Conflicting Narratives of World War II and Holocaust History

Redakcja / Editorial staff / English translation: Andrew Rajcher, 3 December 2022
Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, was the location for the third meeting of the partners of the “Nonviolent Communication Approach in Adult Education in Historical Museums and Memorial Sites” project. The seminar provided an opportunity to further practise the “Nonviolent Communication” model in dealing with visitors, as well as to acquire in-depth knowledge about the complicated, historic and contemporary position of North Macedonia in the Balkan region and in Europe.

As part of the “Nonviolent Communication Approach” project, employees of four institutions – POLIN Museum of the  History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, the Holocaust Memorial Centre for the Jews of Macedonia in Skopje, the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris and the Žanis Lipke Memorial in Riga – train in the principles of “Nonviolent Communication”. It is a communication model that serves to support dialogue and build societies based on empathy and understanding the needs of every person. The aim of the project is to use this model while working with the public and, through it, to activate groups of adult visitors in the field of expanding their knowledge about the Holocaust in Europe.

 

» Read more: The Project and Seminar in Paris

The Holocaust Memorial Centre for the Jews of Macedonia – the host of the training programme held in Skopje on 5th–7th September 2022, focussed on outlining the historical context for the wartime fate of Macedonian Jews, 98% of whom perished during the Holocaust. The second key issue was the manner in which Macedonian history influences contemporary international relations and conflicts of memory, including those about the Holocaust.

The next training meeting is scheduled for spring 2023. The partners will meet at POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw.

The Project is co-funded by the European Commission as part of the Erasmus+ Programme. 

This publication was prepared with the financial support of the European Commission. It reflects only the views of its authors. The European Commission and the National Agency of the Erasmus+ Programme are not responsible for its substantive content.