Fieldtrip to Auschwitz-Birkenau

Core features of the practice

• Organisation:

  
  Institution name: VZW Auschwitz in gedachtenis
  Institution type: Non-profit organisation
  Institution URL: www.auschwitz.be
  

• Format:

  
  Seminar, Extra-mural site visit
  

• Target population:

  
  Educators in formal settings, Educators in non-formal settings
  

• Cost (per practice):

  
  201-500 euros
  

• Setting:

  
  Designated extra-mural memorial or historical site
  

• Themes:

  
  Remembrance education and/or history education, Antisemitism, The Holocaust and/or other genocides, Critical thinking
  

• Core activities:

  
  Group discussion, Written activity, Film viewing, Testimonial, Slide presentation
  

Additional information about the practice

Target population

• Number of participants:

  
  Up to 34
  

• Age of target population:

  
  26+ years
  

• Additional specifics:

  
  Other:, /
  

Components of the practice

• Topics and objectives:

  
  The Foundation wishes to pay a major educational role in warning the youth of today against the dangers of the far right, of racism and of antisemitism. At a time when all traditional values are being called into question, it is important to make young people aware of these problems. More than 2,000 teachers and other education professionals have already taken part in a study visit. The intense emotion generated by a confrontation with the sites themselves and testimony of the survivors is carefully directed towards reflection and analysis during the seminars held during the visit. The program consists of guided visits to the main camps, Auschwitz I and Auschwitz-Birkenau, and the national pavilions in Auschwitz I, discussions with survivors of Auschwitz, film screenings, a general introduction to the characteristics of the Third Reich, etc. Survivors of the concentration and extermination take part in the visits to the camps and the discussions. They bear witness to that tragic period in our contemporary history.
  

• Materials used:

  
  Written or other published material, Material culture, i.e., physical object or setting, Audiovisual material, Online material
  

• Material produced:

  
  /
  

• Sequence of activities - methodology:

  
  he intense emotion generated by a confrontation with the sites themselves and testimony of the survivors is carefully directed towards reflection and analysis during the seminars held during the visit.
  

• Length of activity:

  
  More than 15 hours
  

• Is the activity digital?:

  
  No
  

Accessibility and replicability

• Language(s) in which activity can be delivered:

  
  Dutch, English, French
  

• Is specialist knowledge or professional training required?:

  
  Yes
  

• If yes, which type?:

  
  Remembrance, history, or museum education
  

Qualitative Details

• Has this practice been evaluated?

  
  No
  

• Core content knowledge and transferable skills:

  
  Warning the youth of today against the dangers of the far right, of racism and of antisemitism. At a time when all traditional values are being called into question, it is important to make young people aware of these problems.
  

• Indicators of success:

  
  Repeat demand
  

• Educational coordinator contact details:

  
  Name: Frederic Crahay
  Email address: frederic.crahay@auschwitz.be
  

Scalability

The RETHINK project is concerned with bridging formal and informal education. This section explores the factors that make a practice adaptable.

• Key factors for successful implementation:

  
  Subject expertise of presenter/instructor
  

• Main challenges to teachers adapting this practice for their students:

  
  Enhancing critical thinking on the impact of racism, anti-semitism today and the power of far right propaganda
  

• Availability of guidance/training/replication materials (and in what language/format currently):

  
  Dutch, French, English
  

• Other comments or details:

  
  /