The Holocaust Educational Trust's 'Lessons from Auschwitz Project'

During the half term, two of our Year 13 History students took part in The Holocaust Educational Trust's 'Lessons from Auschwitz Project'.  

This educational and commemorative project offers post-16 students the opportunity to learn about the Holocaust and consider its relevance for today. Through the bespoke interactive online platform, two online seminars and a one-day visit to Poland, participants join others from across the country as they embark on an educational journey in which they: 

• Learn about the history of the Holocaust and the role of camps such as Auschwitz-Birkenau 
• Consider the individuals whose lives were affected by the Holocaust 
• Reflect on the relevance of the Holocaust today and share their learning with others. 

As a next step, the students who attended this will be sharing what they have learnt and experienced from this project with the wider school community. 

One of our students, Wagma, wrote the following about her experience from the visit: 

My trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a truly unforgettable experience. From it, I was able to gain an incredible insight into what conditions Jews were being treated under, the exact rooms where they slept, ate, worked until death, and in which they were brutally murdered in. 

We visited the very gas chambers that thousands were brought in at any one point and killed, we saw displays of shoes of all the people who had died, as well as glasses, bags, chairs, and also hair. These really allowed us to gain a deep understanding of the sheer scale of atrocities committed during the Holocaust. 

We also had the privilege to speak to a Holocaust survivor, Manfred Goldberg, who shared his inspiring story of life in the camps, of what it was like to be alive during the time, what it was like to be discriminated upon because of what he believed and stood for, something that is happening in the world even today. I was able to enhance my knowledge beyond the classroom from experiencing the place first-hand.   

Hafsa reflected on the trip that:

The visit to Auschwitz offered me valuable lessons about the Holocaust, human resilience and the consequences of hatred. It emphasised the significance of tolerance, understanding and standing against injustice.

Witnessing Auschwitz-Birkenau for myself allowed me to understand in depth the atrocities the Jewish people faced during this horrific period in time where they were killed and hated simply for their beliefs. Furthermore, it reminded me of the importance of preserving memory in order to strive for a more compassionate and just world. By learning about the systematic dehumanization of individuals, labelling them as numbers, I leant the significance of education in preventing intolerance.

It was an opportunity to understand the complexities of history and the role each person plays in upholding human dignity and promoting empathy. Ultimately the visit inspired commitment to fostering a more inclusive and sympathetic world.