Meeting of the European Members of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience in the Terezín Memorial

Between November 17 and 19, 2017 the Terezín Memorial hosted representatives of the European members of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC) at a gathering held under the motto: Inspiration for a New Generation. One of the major goals of the Coalition is to involve young people in taking an active part in discussions on various historical events, frequently from the recent past, events that might seem to be complex and controversial but that should not be forgotten.

A varied program was prepared for the participants who came to Terezín from all corners of Europe. Its key section opened with presentations of the current projects carried out by the participating institutions. For its part, the Terezín Memorial, as one of the founding members of the Coalition, unveiled its projects launched in co-operation with the ICSC; the latest of these, Being at School in the War Years (1938 – 1945) is still ongoing. Presentations were followed by debates focused on the potential direction of the ISCS´s work and collaboration with its member institutions.

The meeting was also designed to facilitate closer acquaintance with the Terezín Memorial itself, its history and the objects it administers. Its offer of activities came complete with a fact-finding visit to the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes in Prague, with the attendees learning about the Institute´s agenda, its archives and programs for school-age youth.

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