A Note for Educators:

Survivor testimonies are first-hand accounts from individuals who had lived through the Holocaust or genocide and their stories help students to understand and empathise more deeply with the human (and inhuman) aspects of mass atrocities. They each offer a unique perspective on human behaviour and the resilience shown in the face of persecution. These stories have been selected by educators at the JHGC to support the teaching of the Holocaust and genocide and to help learners engage with these difficult histories.

These short audio testimonies told by Mduduzi Ntuli, education officer at the JHGC, need to be placed into historical context accompanied by content about the history of the Holocaust or genocide as well as specific information about dates, places and events that are mentioned in these stories. Maps and photographs may assist with visual understanding and context to these stories. 

It is important to discuss and unpack each story with your learners. Here are some suggested questions to start a discussion:

• “What changes and experiences do each of the survivors go through?
• “What does this story reveal about human behaviour?”
• “How does this story contribute to your understanding of the Holocaust?”
• “What lessons can we learn about the rescuers appearing in these stories?”
• “Why is it important for us to learn about rescuers and acts of courage and not only about the deeds of perpetrators and bystanders?”
• “What can we learn from survivors about our moral obligation to each other?
• “Do you think a person is born with courage or do you think it something that can be learned?”
• “Reflect on some connections you can draw between these testimonies and today’s world.”