Think Sectarianism and Racism are new?

Now the new North East PEACE III Holocaust Educational Project is offering FREE places to people interested in learning more about the experiences endured in the camps and how these relate to sectarianism and racism today.

The Holocaust Educational Project is funded under the European Union’s PEACE III Programme which is managed on behalf of the Special EU Programmes Body by the North East PEACE III Partnership.

The project is currently seeking applications from 80 participants across the North East Council areas of Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Limavady, Larne and Moyle to attend a series of workshops on prejudice, stereotyping, life in Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. There is an opportunity for 60 of these participants to take part in a funded five-day educational study visit to Poland including visits to the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau to gain an appreciation and deeper knowledge on the impact of the Holocaust.

The aim of this new project is to bring an innovative and alternative perspective to informing participants about sectarianism and racism by exploring anti-Semitism and discrimination leading up to and during WWII.

Angila Chada, Executive Director of Springboard Opportunities who are the delivery agents for the project said: “Religious and racial prejudices were at the heart of the Holocaust, through this project we will explore what can and does happen when sectarianism and racism are allowed to go unchallenged.”

Nicola Neill, PEACE III Manager said: “We are pleased to offer this unique experience for young people, youth workers, teachers and leaders in the community from across the 6 Council areas. This type of peace project, which combines local workshops and practical learning with an international study visit, aims to give a fresh perspective on the challenging issues that are still relevant today in Northern Ireland.”

Applications are available on both the North East PEACE III website at www.northeastpeace.com and Springboard’s website at www.springboard-opps.org. Closing date for applications to this once in a lifetime experience is 29th March 2013.