Who will carry on the story once the last contemporary witnesses are no longer with us?

Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer gave young people a special mission:

“That you will be the contemporary witnesses that we can no longer be for much longer.”

This is exactly where the project “Ich werde Zeitzeuge” comes in, supported by the Chance Jugend Foundation.

Students explore Jewish history and Jewish life. They conduct research, meet people, ask questions—and discover that history often begins right on their own doorstep.

History Takes on Names and Faces

The young people research the history of Jewish families from their own region. Who were these people? How did they live? And what traces still remind us of their life stories today?

In this way, historical facts become something personal. History takes on names, faces, and destinies.

Encounters Break Down Prejudices

At the same time, the young people encounter Jewish life today.

In discussions with instructors Tim Kurockin and Terry Swartzberg, they can openly ask their questions and learn more about Jewish life, traditions, and personal experiences.

Such encounters can dispel uncertainties, open up new perspectives, and foster understanding.

For understanding arises where people meet.

When Memory Becomes Audible

Together with Anke Spindler, the students use the magic harp to discover German-Jewish songs that were sung more than 100 years ago.

Music offers a unique window into the past and brings memory to life in a completely different way.

Memory Means Responsibility

The Chance Jugend Foundation supports the international school project days centered on “Ich werde Zeitzeuge”. The project is carried out by Verein zur Gründung der Kulturstiftung Schloß Wernsdorf e. V. under the project leadership of Thomas Spindler.

We want to help ensure that young people not only know history but also understand why remembrance is important even today.

Because remembrance means more than preserving the past. It means taking responsibility for our future.