„Theresienstadt, the True Face“ – Prag
As part of this educational project, which took place from 02.08. to 07.08.2020, we had the opportunity to work intensively with young people on the history of National Socialism and the persecution of people of the Jewish faith. Through visits to historical sites connected with these crimes – such as the Theresienstadt Memorial and the former village of Lidice, as well as exploring the Jewish quarter in Prague – we sought not only to raise awareness of the cruel events of the past, but also to encourage a strong emotional engagement with history.
A central concern of the project was to bring the meaning of democracy and freedom closer to the participants. Using the history of Prague – from the events of the Prague Spring to the peaceful „turning point“ of 1989 – we showed how, through non-violent resistance and collective protest, the path to a democratic society and to a life in freedom became possible. In this way, we wanted to encourage the young people and demonstrate to them the power of peaceful engagement.
In addition to engaging with history, we offered the participants the opportunity, in workshops and city tours, to explore the democratic developments in Prague and to experience how important it is to commit to the values of democracy. This journey was intended not only to impart knowledge, but also to strengthen an awareness of each individual's responsibility in the fight against antisemitism and in preserving democratic values. In a reflective exchange and personal conversations, we deepened our experiences and together created a travel diary that captured the impressions and insights of the trip. At the end of the journey, the participants returned home not only with a deeper understanding of the past, but also with a strengthened sense of their own role in a democratic society. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Landschaftsverband Westfalen Lippe (LWL), whose funding made it possible for us to carry out this valuable project.
