Leeds Secondary Schools have launched the “Auschwitz in Front of Your Eyes” initiative, providing virtual tours of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial to secondary students as an educational program to teach about the Holocaust and combat discrimination. The initiative, a collaboration between the Auschwitz Birkenau Foundation and the Auschwitz Memorial, offers an immersive experience with multimedia content, including Holocaust survivors’ testimonies, to create a powerful educational tool.
What is the “Auschwitz in Front of Your Eyes” virtual tour initiative in Leeds schools?
The “Auschwitz in Front of Your Eyes” initiative is a Leeds educational program providing virtual tours of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial to secondary students, using multimedia content to teach about the Holocaust and to combat discrimination.
Educational Initiative in Leeds
Leeds, a city known for its commitment to education and cultural understanding, is embarking on a path-breaking journey. Secondary school students will have an unparalleled opportunity to engage with one of the most poignant chapters in human history – the Holocaust – through a virtual tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial in Poland.
The pioneering program, “Auschwitz in Front of Your Eyes”, is a collaboration between the Warsaw-based Auschwitz Birkenau Foundation and the Auschwitz Memorial. It employs an innovative online platform that allows memorial educators to guide students through the Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau sites for up to two hours. This immersive experience is complemented by multimedia content, including Holocaust survivors’ testimonies, to create a powerful educational tool.
Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council, expressed his pride in the initiative, stating, “Leeds is a city built on tolerance, understanding, and learning.” He emphasized the importance of never forgetting the atrocities humans are capable of, reinforcing the urgent need for education as a weapon against hate.
A Powerful Warning from History
The significance of Auschwitz as the epicenter of the Holocaust cannot be overstated. Over 1.1 million men, women, and children perished there, victims of unfathomable hate and discrimination. The preserved memorial now serves as a testament to this dark period and as a center for learning about the dire consequences of prejudice of all forms.
The “Auschwitz in Front of Your Eyes” tour is not only a vivid reminder of the past but also a proactive step in preventing future atrocities. The Deputy Leader of Leeds City Council, Jonathan Pryor, further elaborated, “The virtual tour will become an invaluable tool in anti-discrimination education here in Leeds, nationally and internationally.”
Each of the 44 secondary schools in Leeds will be offered one fully funded tour. The program is designed for 14–15-year-old students, aligning with the year 9 and 10 curriculum. The initiative underscores Leeds’ support for the national work of the Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, of which the UK is currently the chair.
Strengthening International Relations
The introduction of the virtual tours is also a testament to the strength of international relations, particularly between the UK and Poland. UK Ambassador to Poland, Anna Clunes, highlighted the tour as “an important example of Polish-British cooperation to educate future generations.”
In the lead-up to these tours, reciprocal visits took place between Leeds representatives and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation. These discussions have paved the way for a partnership built on shared values and a mutual commitment to confronting a harrowing past.
Wojciech Soczewica, chief executive of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, noted the importance of adapting to new technologies to ensure that the lessons of history remain accessible. “Now, in a rapidly changing environment, where new technologies provide global access to content, it is our responsibility to seek new ways in which the truth about Europe’s darkest chapter can be accessed by everyone.”
Immersive Learning Experience
The first tours are scheduled to begin on 19 February 2024, with Leeds taking a leading role in this innovative educational model. Councillor Robert W Gettings MBE JP, former Lord Mayor of Leeds, underscored the continuing relevance of Holocaust education, saying, “the chilling shadow of genocide is still an ever-present issue in the world today.”
Schools can book their virtual tours through Leeds For Learning, providing young people with a unique chance to witness the consequences of antisemitism and hate firsthand. This initiative is not just about remembrance; it is about equipping the next generation with the knowledge and understanding to challenge discrimination in all its forms.
The dedication of individual councillors, who collectively raised £4,600 from their community funding allowances, has ensured the first year of the program is fully funded. The initiative promises to leave a lasting impression on students and to contribute to the global fight against antisemitism and other forms of hate.
For more information on the project, please visit Leeds For Learning. Details about the Auschwitz virtual tour program can be found here.
Notes for editors:
Photo Credit: Leeds City Council. Caption: Barbed wire fences and watchtower at the Auschwitz 1 camp.
World Holocaust Alliance: A world that remembers the Holocaust.
- Leeds Secondary Schools have launched the “Auschwitz in Front of Your Eyes” initiative, providing virtual tours of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial to secondary students as an educational program to teach about the Holocaust and combat discrimination.
- The initiative is a collaboration between the Auschwitz Birkenau Foundation and the Auschwitz Memorial, offering an immersive experience with multimedia content, including Holocaust survivors’ testimonies, to create a powerful educational tool.
- The virtual tour program is designed for 14-15-year-old students in Leeds and is aligned with the year 9 and 10 curriculum.
- The initiative is fully funded for the first year through community funding allowances raised by individual councillors.
- The virtual tours strengthen international relations, particularly between the UK and Poland, and are seen as an important example of Polish-British cooperation to educate future generations.