The project was held from 2007-06-07 to 2007-06-20.
The leader of the project was Genute Zilyte. Teachers who worked with the children: Lina Kerbelyte, Audra Dailideniene, Regina Streikiene.
This project would not have happened so successfully if not for Yad Vashem financial support. Especially we are thankful Dr. Irit Abramski for her concern, support and evaluation of our work.
Credo of the project: You become a Human through the knowledge of history, literature, art and the empathy of other human beings. You have to develop a Human in yourself every day.
Works done while implementing this project:
Teachers started preparations before the start of a project to find the most applicable methods and resources to the children of that age, the didactical methods were research to know how one or another historical fact should be presented to the children, so that the children would be interested in the theme, moreover, that this project would encourage them to go deeper in to this theme on their own. In addition to this, the children were preparing for the project as well. There were 38 students participating in a project. They were divided into three groups. They had certain tasks to do: for instance to choose the name for their group. For example one group was called Maccabi (it’s a name of a basketball team), another group was called a Star of David and the third one was Elite. The names of the groups were chosen according to their wish as each group wanted to be the best. At the end of each day their activities were evaluated by points. Each group would get a lot of points. During the project they were in a way playing and competing but at the same time they got in touch with the part of history that they didn’t know. At the end of the project the Star of David won outnumbering the opposing teams by one point.
First day:
The opening of the project.
A short presentation of a Litwak history. (Litwak’s history was presented by the project leader Genute Zilyte with the aid of power point presentation).
Children’s press conference with the guests and journalists (children had questions prepared in advanced for the guests, journalists and teachers. Children enjoyed it very much as children knew the answers to most of their questions and were comparing their own answers to the answers given to them by adults).
A competition of the posters. Theme: No – to the Holocaust! (Children were talking about how they perceive the term Holocaust themselves).
Second day:
It was dedicated for the cleaning of Jewish mass graves territory. The Jewish community of Panevezys was actively participating in this as well.
On their arrival children were shortly introduced to the history of the place.
Children were picking litter, weeding the graves, planting flowers that they brought themselves by the monument stone. The children were actively participating.
The day was very warm and the children were very tired. However, children were very proud of their work as they knew that they had done a really useful work. Of course teachers were really glad to see this.
Third day:
Excursion to Kedainiai and Kaunas 9th Fort.
While sharing their impressions children said that 9th Fort was stuck in their mind as a dreadful place where they learned a lot about this prison, cells and the conditions in which people lived there. Children had questions about that place and someone asked in what book they could read about it. They also were interested why not all of the prisoners escaped.
Fourth and Sixth day:
This day was dedicated to teaching children how and where to find information about Jewish history, literature, holocaust and what computer games they can play to check their own knowledge. Children were introduced to Jewish sayings and quotations by famous Jewish people. Moreover, they had to search for the most prominent symbols of Jewish culture using encyclopedias and interned – as well as to draw them.
Fifth day:
Excursion to Vilnius: Jewish Vilnius, The Choir Synagogue, Paneriai.
This day gave the most impressions as the beautiful surrounding nature was in discord with the history they heard about that place. Children were very positive about what they had learned. In Paneriai they were talking: “this place looks really nice, however it is a really sad place…” or “there are so many birds, maybe all those people turned into them” and more “were those people judged for what did”, “It is really horrible, I do not want to know about it, but I have to”.
Seventh day:
This day was dedicated for the history of Panevezys Jews.
Children were going along the streets where during the Word Wars lived lots of people of Jewish origin. Through the places where they had public and religious institutions, schools, hospital. They were told the Yeshiva history as well.™ Partners of the Panevezys Jewish Community were together with us for the whole day. They were walking together and communicating with us.
We finished our day in the house of Jewish community.
Children said that they were surprised to hear it, and that it was totally unknown part and history of their town. They acknowledged that know, while going for a walk in their own town they will instinctly raise their head to look for Jewish signs on the buildings.
In Jewish community children expressed their wish to meet with the Jews that were born and lived in Panevezys before the World War II. The chairman of the Panevezys Jewish Community Koffman promised them to do it.
Eighth day:
Closing of a camp.
Groups of children wrote articles about the project, in which they wrote their impressions and further wishes.
All of this was presented either though narration or interview. Others still made a project work to represent all they did and saw, where the photos were included as well.
While working in the project, teachers got a lot of new ideas. Today we know that some of the things we would do differently. Not much time has passed since this project and we didn’t have enough of time to evaluate all the positive and negative aspects. However, we hope to come back to this project one more time and to consider it anew. Children enjoyed the project very much. They want another project like this. The last day they did not want the project to end. The parents of students were contented with the project as well. Children would always tell their parents in details what they have learned and emotions they experienced. A lot of things were really unknown to children and their parents, thus children were the ones who also introduced Jewish heritage and Holocaust to their parents.
Local press also had articles about our project. In addition to this, our partners the Panevezys Jewish Community promised us to describe this project and to supply it to the newspaper “Lietuvos Jeruzale” (Lithuanian Jerusalem).
