Nicola Sturgeon renews funding for Scottish teens to visit Auschwitz

27 January 2016, 8:00 am

Nicola Sturgeon has announced renewed funding to ensure Scottish teenagers can continue to visit Auschwitz.

The funding will enable students from every school and college in Scotland to participate in the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz programme – a one-day visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau and accompanying seminars to learn about the Holocaust and hear testimony from a survivor.

Signing the Trust’s Book of Commitment in the lead up to Holocaust Memorial Day, the First Minister said: “Last year marked the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. We also commemorated the 20th anniversary of the genocide at Srebrenica. Both anniversaries are a reminder of the consequences that can arise when people are given a license to exploit difference and encourage hatred.

“As we approach the national Holocaust Memorial Day one way of working to ensure that nothing like the Holocaust ever happens again, is to ensure that it is never forgotten. The Holocaust Educational Trust does excellent work in raising awareness among the wider public through the Lessons from Auschwitz Project. By learning and reflecting on the horrors of the Holocaust the Trust plays an important part in spurring us on to create a better future and a society where people respect each other no matter what their differences.”

Holocaust Educational Trust Chief Executive Karen Pollock said: “Thousands of Scottish students have visited Auschwitz-Birkenau as part of the Lessons from Auschwitz Project and with this renewed support, many thousands more will be able to have this life-changing experience. We are delighted that the First Minister and the Scottish Government recognise the value of this unique educational programme – with this funding, Holocaust education in Scotland is in safe hands.”

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