Project „They came, they left… They are”: meetings with Holocaust survivors

The project is supposed to lead to an increase of interest in the history of Polish Jews and explain the meaning of tolerance.

Poland is presented here as a country of various cultures and religions. The authors of this initiative have emphasized the meaning of the contact with youth from small towns and of giving these young people the opportunity to gain access to culture through the presentation of modern tools of cultural education.

The main goal is to encourage as many teachers as possible to create educational materials and to actively participate in the Jewish history and culture education.

During the lectures and workshops, students will get to know the most important Jewish festivals. They will also participate in a narrative show and an artistic competition.

An important part of the project is the meeting with a witness of history – a Holocaust survivor who describes his personal experience and talks about rescuing Jews during the Nazi occupation.

Apart from that, young people will get to know how prejudice towards minorities comes into existence. They will try to answer the question whether the experience of the Second World War allows us to understand the dangers of intolerance and discrimination.

The Jewish Historical Institute is carrying out this program in cooperation with the Studnia “O” Association and the Association of “Children of the Holocaust” in Poland thanks to the financial support of the Minister and Culture and National Heritage as part of the program „Edukacja+”.

In 2010 schools from Warsaw, Otwock, Lublin and Białystok participated in the program.