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.

An International Perspective on Remembrance – ASF Volunteers' Seminar in Oświęcim and Kraków

From June 7 to 13, 2026, another edition of the study seminar was held for international volunteers participating in the year-long volunteer program in Germany, organized by Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste (ASF) (Action Reconciliation Service for Peace). Young people from various European countries and the USA met at the International Youth Meeting Center (IYMC) in Oświęcim to discuss the history of Auschwitz and the Holocaust within the context of the dominant historical discourses in their home countries. 

Throughout this intensive week, the participants engaged with diverse narratives surrounding the Shoah and the post-war period up to the present day. They began their program with a historical walking tour of Oświęcim, combined with a visit to the Jewish Center (Museum and Synagogue), which allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the rich Polish-Jewish history before and after the Holocaust. Another vital component of the seminar was the creative biographical workshops. Working with interviews they had conducted over the past few months, the volunteers connected these perspectives to their own family histories.

The central focus of the study trip was visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial. The volunteers showed particular interest in analyzing the guiding methodology as well as the concepts behind the main and national exhibitions, which sparked a profound discussion on the diverse, international perceptions of these sites. They also learned about the history of the National Socialist genocide of the Jews, as well as the Sinti and Roma, and the Nazi crimes committed during the occupation of Poland.

The seminar concluded with a visit to Kraków, dedicated to further exploring Jewish history and evaluating the entire project.

Term 

17.-23.06.2026, IYMC Oświęcim/Auschwitz, Kraków

Organizers 

IYMC Auschwitz/Oświęcim, Action Reconciliation Service for Peace/Germany

Coordination 

Judith Hoehne-Krawczyk, hoehne@mdsm.pl

The study trip is financially supported by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ), the Bethe Foundation, the federal program "Jugend erinnert" (Youth Remembers), the Child and Youth Welfare Plan (KJP), and IBB gGmbH.

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