International Work & Study Camp 2005

The "International Work & Study Camp" in Mörfelden-Walldorf from August 6 - August 27, 2005 for young adults between 16 and 26 years of age, concerning historical and present-day racist traditions. Practical, theoretical and artistic work in the context of the KZ Walldorf memorial

Short Description of the Project:

Young adults of the so-called "third generation" (grandchildren of holocaust survivors of the KZ Walldorf and persons of the same age interested in the subject of NS-era / history of antisemitism) will be given the opportunity in the "International Work & Study Camp" to live together for 3 weeks, do practical work, listen to lectures, discuss with each other and even process their experiences artistically under professional guidance. Practical work is planned to take place on the grounds of the former KZ Walldorf for the upgrading of an existing memorial place. Around the area of the KZ, there is a so-called "historic nature trail". The cellar of a camp shack in which the imprisoned Hungarian Jewish women were beaten and sometimes tortured to death in 1944, will now be unearthed. At the end of the three-week camp, this cellar will be inaugurated as a dignified place of commemoration. The daughter of one of the women tortured to death there will be travelling from Budapest together with her daughter to be present on the occasion.

One day per week, the camp participants will be involved with theoretical questions concerning historical and present-day racism and antisemitism. This theoretical work will take place in cooperation with appropriate institutions in the Rhein-Main area. The main focus of this intellectual work will be on lectures and discussions about the respective home countries of the participants. On the basis of registrations, we plan:

  1. History and present-day racism and antisemitism in East European countries (Participants of the camp come from Russia, Latvia and the Ukraine)
  2. History and present-day racism and antisemitism in West European countries (further participants of the camp come from: Italy, France and Germany
  3. Present-day dialogue projects, international work for peace, etc....

The history of antisemitism in Germany will naturally be a kind of guiding line through the practical work on the site during the entire period of the camp.

In the afternoons and evenings, the young adults will have the opportunity the shape their experiences and impressions artistically under professional guidance. We attach explicit importance to this process as a medium of ideational realization and mental digestion.

Which Objectives Are We Going to Pursue With This Camp?

Through their joint work, the young adults are expected to create a dignified place of commemoration for the present and future generations on the area of a former KZ. The work is meant to inspire discussion about forms of commemoration in the different home countries; also, activities of this kind often provoke questions among the participants about different national traditions relating to the history of racism and antisemitism. The social scientists will deal with their topics in view of the past as well as in view of current questions. Art educationalists will provide guidance to the seminar participants in order help them to process these new experiences und develop their own very personal forms of expression. The entire process is meant to arouse further awareness of racist developments as well as to encourage new personal perspectives and new forms of civil courage.



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Series of Photographs:

Gemeinsame internationale Ausgrabungen im ehemaligen Küchenkeller der KZ Außenstelle Walldorf Click on the photo to start the line

Experience Reports:

Two participants of the "International Work and Study Camp" will each write a daily report about what had happened during the day, their personal impressions.

Please click on the name.

Tal from Israel will begin;
she is 21 years old. Her grandmother ("Goldi") was imprisoned in the Waldorf KZ in 1944
--> Tal writes:

Claudia is from Erfurt; she is 17 years old.
--> Claudia writes:

Alexej is 21 years old; he comes from Russia.
--> Alexej writes:

Paula (20 years old, from Spain) writes about her motivation talking part in this work and study camp:
--> Paula

Raphaelle is from Rennes; she is 16 years old and is writing for us:
--> Raphaelle