Student Ambassadors

Who Are Student Ambassadors?

Since 1999, more than 11,000 young people from across the United Kingdom have taken part in the Lessons From Auschwitz Project. A key part of this course is the ripple effect. Following their visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau, all participants become Ambassadors, that is people who are committed to educating others about the Holocaust and its contemporary lessons, as they go about their lives.

‘In participating in the Lessons from Auschwitz Project you become ‘ambassadors’ for Holocaust education, enabling as many people as possible to benefit from what you have learnt. All of you have been invested with the responsibility for delivering a powerful message to your peers and wider communities: the importance of challenging prejudice, promoting tolerance and never again allowing hatred to gain a foothold in society.’ - Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust.

What Have Student Ambassadors Done?

Being a student Ambassador begins with a "Next Steps" project. This is the fourth stage of the Lessons From Auschwitz course. Projects which student Ambassadors undertake may include teaching lessons, speaking in assemblies, creating artwork and other permanent exhibits, and helping their local communities to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. It also includes talking to friends and family about what they learned, choosing not to be a bystander, standing up to prejudice and discrimination.

For many Ambassadors the Next Steps projects are only the beginning. Amrit Kaur Lohia and Imogen Dalziel from Broomfield School in Enfield, London particpated in Lessons From Auschwitz in May 2009. After planning a number of initiatives in their school and local community to educate others about the Holocaust they went on to speak at one of our Student Ambassador Events alongside Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty. Amrit is now studying History in London and was invited to speak at the Greater London Assembly's Holocaust Memorial Day Event 2011. Imogen has spoken at a number of events for the Holocaust Educational Trust in and around Birmingham where she is at University studying Psychology.

What Can Student Ambassadors Do?

The Trust works in partnership with many Local Authorities and organisations which arrange events for Holocaust Memorial Day. Ambassadors' passion and commitment make then well placed to speak eloquently about the Holocaust and what they see as the lessons for their local communities. If you are a student Ambassador interested in finding a local organisation with which to partner, or if you are involved in planning a commemorative event which would benefit from the involvement of Student Ambassadors from your local area, please contact Clementine Smith, Ambassador Outreach Officer at JLIB_HTML_CLOAKING

You can see some of the amazing work that our Student Ambassadors have produced in order to communicate their Lessons from Auschwitz in our Student Showcase.