Lessons from Auschwitz - Visit to Poland

On 8th October, two Sixth Form students travelled to the town of Oświęcim in Poland as part of the Lessons from Auschwitz project run by the Holocaust Educational Trust. Riya (Year 13) and Aleyah (Year 12) joined 200 other sixth formers from schools across London in gaining a greater understanding of the Holocaust. Students studied individuals that were impacted by Nazi persecution and the role that camps like Auschwitz Birkenau played in the Holocaust.

The day began by visiting a Jewish cemetery in the town of Oświęcim which provided an insight into what Jewish life was like before the outbreak of World War Two. This linked to their prior research about Jewish life in Europe before World War Two that they had completed as part of the project before their departure to Poland.

Students continued on to Auschwitz I, the site of the largest Nazi concentration camp that was used to murder 1.1 million people during the Holocaust. At the museum, students observed the numerous everyday objects that were left behind by those who lost their lives. This gave students the opportunity to reflect on the individuals that they had studied and connect these to the artefacts left behind. The visit was accompanied by an educator from the Holocaust Educational Trust who provided further learning opportunities linked to the historic environment.

In the afternoon, students visited the last stop of the day at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Unlike Auschwitz I, Birkenau is a preserved section of the remains of the concentration camp. During the visit, students engaged with testimonies from Holocaust survivors to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences for people who were sent to the concentration camps during World War Two. The day ended with a memorial service for all those who had lost their lives during the Holocaust.

Both students found the visit to be incredibly meaningful and will now complete their Next Steps project to share what they have learned from their experience. They aim to further share how the lessons learned from the Holocaust still have relevance to our lives today.