< Holocaust-Erinnerung: IBB organisiert mehr Fahrten nach Auschwitz
25.01.2012 13:15 Age: 1 Jahre
Holocaust memory: IBB raises educational journeys to Auschwitz
The Association for International Education and Exchange Dortmund (IBB) has been offering educational journeys for pupils to Auschwitz since its foundation in 1986. The number of journeys has erratically increased in the year 2011 to 24, the number of participants to 848. This equals a doubling. “The interest has noticeably grown”, reports IBB employee Burkhard Grahn, who has planned the programme. The excursions are supported by grants of North Rhine-Westphalia’s new foundation called “Erinnern ermöglichen”.
Nearly 70 years afterwards still encounters with time witnesses of national socialism
Every journey to the memorial place Auschwitz - which has become the symbol for the systematic holocaust of the Jews of Europe – the IBB designs individually. An important role play encounters with time witnesses of the holocaust, which the IBB can offer today – nearly 70 years afterwards. “25 years ago many adolescents had time witnesses in their family, who could report about the crimes and the victims of the holocaust out of their own view”, knows Grahn.
To see with one's own eyes what others know only from the schoolbook, leaves a deep impression with the adolescents. Capturing the size of the camp, entering the left over buildings, smelling the specific smell of the location and entering by oneself through its gate, over which the cynical heading “work makes (one) free” - opens an immediate access to this chapter of history, which dates back 67 years. Sorrow, mercy, anger or desperation are feelings, which have to be handled. Before the journey back the travellers hold a small commemoration ceremony in memory of the victims and express their hope for a peaceful joint future.
Our picture shows the results of an hour of remembrance by adolescents in Auschwitz (in January 20122): Red and white carnations are symbols of their grief and compassion, enclosed in quotes of famous contemporaries and the adolescents wish: “Never again!” is engraved on one ribbon, their request “Say no!” on another. The picture has been kindly made available to us by Thomas Oppermann.
