Elie Wiesel Study Tour
Explore the Past. Shape the Future! - Hungary
2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the ending of the Second World War, and the ending of the Holocaust. Acknowledging the milestone year, this project addresses a theme that is central to understanding U.S. values and aspirations as a democratic nation. As stated on the U.S. Holocaust Museum website: “Students will gain insight into the many historical, social, religious, political, and economic factors that cumulatively resulted in the Holocaust, they will gain awareness of the complexity of the subject and a perspective on how a convergence of factors can contribute to the disintegration of democratic values.”
The first Elie Wiesel Study Tour was implemented in 2017 with Romanian and, subsequently, Moldovan participants has been expanded with Hungarian participation in 2020. At the same time the project introduced a new element, an online course led by Prof. Alexis Herr from San Francisco University. Following their virtual studies, participants design and implement their own initiatives for disseminating the newly acquired knowledge. The last phase of the project is a study tour through Romania, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.
It is an important aspect of the project to contribute to a broader understanding of this period of the 20th-century history and raising awareness about cross-border historic interpretations and individual experiences.
Follow-up projects of the Hungarian participants
Self-paced tour in Szeged by visiting sights of importance regarding the Holocaust in the town. Available from January 27, 2021
Virtual tour in Budapest to understand the Holocaust through personal life stories. Date: November 15, 2020
Guided tour in the Jewish cemetery of Lovasbereny. Date: November 1, 2020
High school class about the Holocaust and the importance of Raul Wallenberg in saving Jewish lives with the involvement of a Hungarian survivor living in Sweden. Date: December 9, 2020
Holocaust awareness class at the Ujpest Roma Self-Government’s Afternoon School for 12-15 year old pupils. Date: October 8, 2020
Application for the 2020-2021 Elie Wiesel Study Tour
The application for this project has been closed.
Additional Information
Funding provided by the United States Government.
Our cooperating partner in Hungary is the Centropa Foundation
The project’s Romanian page can be found HERE
The project’s Moldovan page can be found HERE
Contact the Hungarian project staff at hu@americancouncils.org