A group of students from City of Bristol College recently took part in the Holocaust Educational Trust’s ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ programme, joining thousands of peers from across the UK in this powerful educational experience.
The visit to the site of the former Nazi concentration and death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, is a key component of the programme and aims to deepen understanding of the Holocaust among post-16 students and educators.
Rooted in the principle that “hearing is not like seeing,” ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ is designed to move beyond traditional classroom learning. It provides students with a connection to one of history’s darkest chapters, encouraging reflection, empathy and a commitment to remembrance.
This experience marks a significant moment in students’ education, allowing for a deeper awareness of the importance of human rights and the dangers of prejudice and discrimination.
Below, you’ll find a detailed account of City of Bristol College students’ experience of the programme and their recent visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau in the words of Youth Social Action Apprentice, Anne Draper.
Lessons from Auschwitz Project – Anne’s words:
On Brandon Hill, near the College Green Campus, there is a Ginkgo tree planted in memory of Anne Frank to commemorate what would have been her 80th birthday. Anne Frank is one of the most recognisable victims of the Holocaust; the murder of 6 million Jewish men, women and children by the Nazis and their collaborators.
This spring, two students from City of Bristol College had the opportunity to take part in the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ project organised by the Holocaust Education Trust. This project gives names back to the nameless victims of the Holocaust and shares their stories and those of the diverse Jewish communities around Europe before the Second World War.
The project started with a seminar in Bristol where participants heard a powerful and moving testimony from Holocaust survivor, Mala Tribich.
Students then participated in a day trip to Poland, visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. During the visit to the Auschwitz camp, participants witnessed the preserved barracks and haunting displays of seized belongings, including piles of shoes, suitcases, glasses and human hair.
Students followed the steps of the new arrivals at the camp, walking up the ramp where selections were made. Some people would be sent to the gas chambers immediately, and some would survive for at least for a while as forced labour.
A display that left a big impression on the group was the Book of Names, which seeks to name every Jewish person murdered in the Holocaust and give them back their identity. Currently, it contains 4.8 million names, with space for more to be added, creating a visible monument that visitors are encouraged to explore.
Everyone was struck by the scale of the site and how the Holocaust affected communities from all corners of Europe. The impact of seeing this first-hand went beyond what can be achieved by classroom learning.
At the end of the trip, students took part in a moving service to commemorate the victims and allow time for reflection, led by a rabbi, before returning to Bristol with the mission to share what they had learned with our college community.
Student Charlotte said: ”This project was something that I will remember for the rest of my life. The opportunity to visit Auschwitz and listen to the testimony of Mala Tribich is something I will never forget.
“The project has helped me understand the full human consequences of the Holocaust and the importance of continuing to remember it.”
