A HOUSE TO LIVE
A PLACE TO LEARN

We are in the town of Oświęcim to remind about Auschwitz. To convince, that we must learn from the past. We show that Oświęcim can be a place of meetings, reconciliation, and understanding. We are in the town of Oświęcim so that Auschwitz will not be repeated.

Images of Memory

Polish-German photography seminar for youth

From May 10 to 16, 2026, the International Youth Meeting Center (IYMC) in Oświęcim hosted the Polish-German photography seminar "Images of Memory". The project brought together young people from the Oświęcim Powiat (District) and the German District of Dachau. For these young people, the meeting was not only an opportunity to develop their artistic passion, but above all, a space for deep reflection on the history of the former Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp, as well as the contemporary face of today's Memorial Site.

The goal of this working week was to look for a personal, unique perspective on the difficult past through the medium of photography. Participants sought to translate their personal emotions and thoughts into the language of imagery, allowing them to develop a completely new, individual perspective on a place they previously knew mainly from history textbooks or official documents.

A key point of the program was the photography sessions on the grounds of the former Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau camps. Thanks to special permissions, the participants, under the guidance of a tour guide and the photographer, took their photos at various times of the day – including during unique evening sessions filled with deep focus and contemplation. The youth searched for their own, personal frames that would allow them to channel their emotions into visual images.

All of these experiences – both artistic and social – were brought together during the intensive work on photo selection, writing captions/commentaries, and arranging the exhibition space. 

The culmination of the seminar was the official opening of the exhibition, which took place on Friday, May 15, at the IYMC, with the participation of invited guests. The "images of memory" created by the youth show that Polish-German dialogue and the collective processing of history are the best path to building responsible civic attitudes in today's world. The exhibition can still be viewed at the IYMC, and in the future, it will travel to the schools of the project participants. Even now, the results of their work can also be followed on the dedicated Instagram profile: @erinnerungsbilderobrazypamieci.

The photography workshops were led by Andrzej Rudiak.

 

Project organizers and partners:

International Youth Meeting Center in Oświęcim/Auschwitz (IYMC)
Max Mannheimer Studienzentrum
In cooperation with:
The District Starosty in Oświęcim and the District Starosty in Dachau
The Stanisław Konarski High School in Oświęcim and the Gymnasium Markt Indersdorf

Coordination:

Judith Hoehne-Krawczyk, hoehne@mdsm.pl
Magdalena Geier, geier@mmsz-dachau.de 

 

The photography workshops were funded by the German-Polish Youth Office (PNWM/DPJW) as part of the "To Preserve Memory" ("Zachować Pamięć" / "Wege zur Erinnerung") grant program.

Financial support: Association for the Support of the International Youth Meeting Center in Oświęcim, Oświęcim Powiat (District).

 

Fot.: Andrzej Rudiak, Patricia Melzl

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