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“Auschwitz — my land” for the fourth time
The latest edition of the project “Auschwitz — my land. History and remembrance after 60 years” has finished. At the International Youth Meeting Center, awards and honors were handed out to those taking part in the literary and photographic contest, as well as to the teachers who oversaw the young people who took part in the project. The meeting was combined with an exhibition of the work.
The main theme of the fourth edition of the project was “Lost families”, and the subjet of the contest was: “Hope dies last… The family in the face of Auschwitz and Extermination”. Taking part in the project were 630 individuals from 29 grammar and high schools in Małopolska and Silesia. The entire project consisted of: a conference for teachers, study tour of the former concentration camp, literary and photographic contest for young people, and follow-up conference.
—The goal of the conference was, above all, to get to know history — through the fates of close family members the participants learned about the great tragedy, but also about universal conclusions from experiencing Auschwitz and the Holocaust — said Krystyna Oleksy, director of ICEAH. — During the 60th anniversary of the Museum’s founding, Elie Wiesel said that those who learn this terrible history are changed and become better people. In the work of these young people you can see these changes and this is a very positive effect of the entire project — added Krystyna Oleksy.
—Every year the contest attracts many young people. This year we managed to create a publication, which contains pictures of award winning work from both past and present editions. As well as statements of participants — said Alicja Bartuś from the IYMC foundation. – Due to great interest and the high quality of the work, we plan to carry out the project the following school year — added Bartuś.
The project is going to continue under a different name: “Auschwitz — my land: History and remembrance after 60 years".
Project organizers were: International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust at the State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau, International Youth Meeting Center, and the Małopolska Teacher Training Center. “Dziennik Polski” is the media sponsor.
