The owners of the stolen property once were victims of Nazi persecution from more than 30 different countries. Today, their families and descendants are scattered all over the world. This wide geographical spread makes #StolenMemory interesting for international educational projects as it gives young people the chance to research stories from their own region and get involved directly to support the search for families. Here are some examples of our educational projects.
Cooperation with the German-Polish Youth Office (DPJW)
For German-Polish groups in particular, #StolenMemory offers numerous starting points as the lives of many victims of Nazi persecution have connections with places of residence or memorials in both countries. The Arolsen Archives and the German-Polish Youth Office (DPJW) have been working closely together since 2019. As part of this cooperation, a large number of German-Polish and trilateral youth groups are taking part in the #StolenMemory campaign – facilitated through funding from the “Paths to Remembrance” program. We have summarized all the basic information about #StolenMemory as a German-Polish educational project in a joint brochure.
Partner school in Bad Oldesloe
Every year since 2020, for example, the Stormarn district vocational school in Bad Oldesloe has organized a one-week #StolenMemory project for up to 350 students from Germany, Poland and, most recently, Ukraine. German and Polish young people have already handed over a number of effects to Polish families together.
Young people from Oświęcim (Auschwitz) on the lookout for clues
#StolenMemory was used as an educational project for the first time in 2019, in partnership with the IJBS International Youth Meeting Center in Oświęcim/Auschwitz. Pupils from Konarski secondary school in Oświęcim research the fates of people from the local region; they search for clues and help us trace the descendants of the persecutees – with great success. They have already returned mementoes to more than ten families.