Educational Services

History Speaks

A New Creative Documentation Project

History Speaks is the latest innovation from the Holocaust Centre.  It is an online resource that aims to capture the memories of Holocaust survivors in a format appropriate for young people.  It will make the filmed dialogues and discussions available online for use in classrooms and on an archival website.

A Student-Led Project

History Speaks involves the close participation of students. Young people aged 12-16 will record on film their discussions with, and questions to, Holocaust survivors. Between August 2006 and 2008, they will film at least 30 survivors. They will conduct the interviews themselves and also lead the website discussion, in which receiving communities will be able to take part.

Children have found that learning in this way gives them confidence about themselves and a deeper understanding of the Holocaust.  They have also developed empathy for survivors.

The dialogue and discussions will be permanently available on the Holocaust Centre's website. This is crucial to extending our work to the many schools we now have to turn away each year due to space constraints.  

This project has been started with the kind support of the Stanley Burton Charitable Trust.

"Interaction of this kind between survivors and students has formed the bedrock of educational visits to the Holocaust Centre, Through this programme, we want to ensure that survivors’ experiences are permanently embedded in the Centre, in a format that is engaging and accessible to young people, even in 20 years' time."

Dr James Smith, Chief Executive, The Holocaust Centre

If your school is interested in taking part in this project:

Please contact chantelle.lee@bethshalom.com or call 01623 836 627.