HOL0035

Written evidence submitted by Tolu Mohammed

1. I participated in the “Lessons from Auschwitz” project in March this year. To be fairly honest when I was chosen at my school I was unaware we would be participating with a Trust. The organization that went into our trip to Auschwitz was both incredible and overwhelming so much so this contributed to my decision to carry on working with the trust even after the project came to an end. It just shows how much work goes into the project.

2. LFA is split into a four part course:

1. Orientation Seminar, this is where we get into our groups and have educators who prepare use for the trip. We also were provided the opportunity to hear a Holocaust survivor speak. This was effective in the way that it reminded us as students that each of the victims had individual lives.

2. The visit. The trip which consists of a visit to Oswiecim, a small town in Poland, Auschwitz and Auschwitz Birkenau.

3. Follow-up seminar. Another seminar which is vital as we are able to discuss with each other what met the eye in Poland as most if not all of us found it difficult to speak to others back at school who had not participated in the project.

4. Finally, we complete our next steps project which can take whatever form but must teach others about the Holocaust. This has definitely had an impact on me. It's impacted me emotionally, I think this is the main reason why I chose to set up a Holocaust/anti discrimination committee at my school. As a year 13 student, I’m often occupied but I often take whatever opportunity I have to keep learning about the Holocaust, in fact my EPQ is based on the Holocaust. I have the HET to thank for providing me this opportunity to learn more about the Holocaust.

3. There are endless reasons why I believe that Holocaust education is incredibly important especially in contemporary society where we see on the news issues raised in the Middle East. Although, it’s not the Holocaust, this is how it begins. There are still Holocaust deniers and an audience who know nothing much about the Holocaust but are prepared to listen.

4. The Holocaust educational trust ensures that its teachers, educators, students, ambassadors and regional ambassadors are equipped with everything they need to teach (all at often no cost or low cost which I believe is rather remarkable especially with the result we achieve at the end).

5. Another reason I think that the Holocaust education is important is because roughly 11 millions victims were persecuted then murdered, we have a voice to stand up against discrimination therefore should use it.  We are lucky to live in the UK where we are not punished for disapproving or forced to collaborate with persecution (as had been in Germany 1933- 1945) of certain groups. Roughly 1.1 million children were murdered, when does that ever stop being a problem?

6. I do enjoy working with the holocaust educational trust and often take whatever opportunity I am offered to continue to work with them.

7. With the help from the HET Trust, I was able to organize for a holocaust survivor to visit my school and an outreach session for the younger children. This was a success not only from how organized HET were but with all the resources they provided too. Both the Holocaust survivor and educator were able to speak to children from year 8 - 12 which the students found very useful.

8. The Holocaust Educational Trust website, I find is very useful in providing relevant information, additionally the 70 voices app is quite effective in educating. 'The Holocaust' by David Cesarini has been very useful. Additionally the effectiveness of the Ambassador conference must not be undermined in its ability to further educate hundreds of students through participation in different sectors of the Holocaust held by experts in their field.

November 2015