As the last living links to our Holocaust survivor grandparents, many 3Gs feel the responsiblity of learning our grandparents’ stories. The question is – is it enough to know our grandparents’ stories, or must we take it a step further and share their stories with others? Many 3Gs believe that to ensure nothing like the Holocaust ever happens again, we must share our family’s stories with the world, especially with young people.  The 3Gs that feel comfortable sharing their grandparents’ stories are doing just that – in school classrooms.

3GNY - A NYC-based Group for Grandchildren of Holocaust Survivors is trailblazing in the Holocaust education arena with its flagship educational initiative, WEDU. Short for We Educate, WEDU enables grandchildren of Holocaust survivors to share their grandparents’ stories in middle and high-school classrooms.  Many Holocaust survivors currently speak in school classrooms, but unfortunately based on their age they will not be around forever. WEDU is unique in that the students connect to the 3Gs, who are genearlly in their 20′s and 30′s, in a different way than they would to an actual survivor, since they are closer in age.

Check out the goals of 3GNY’s WEDU program:

WEDU is a powerful contribution to Holocaust education:

  1. URGENCY: As the population of Holocaust survivors declines, their stories should not be lost with them. Now is the time to take responsibility for these stories.
  2. PERSONAL: As a living link to our grandparents’ stories, we are in a special position to elevate the individual experience from the collective.
  3. RELEVANCE TO ALL: The Holocaust serves as an instructive entry point for examining prejudice today. This program will make connections between historical events and issues of intolerance and persecution that remain with us.
  4. SOCIAL ACTION: In a multicultural society, we all have a stake in challenging assumptions. This program will actively engage students to think about ways to confront intolerance and prejudice.

Aaron Herman, a digital/social media consultant recently interviewed by 3Glegacy, covered 3GNY’s recent WEDU Showcase at Hummus Place in the East Village of NYC.  Co-sponsored by Masa Israel Journey, the event raised awareness about 3GNY’s WEDU program.  In this video which was featured on the home page of The Jewish Week,  hear from some 3GNY board members about the importance of carrying on our grandparents’ legacies, as well as the experience in the classroom from recent WEDU participants:

 

WEDU is set to become the future of Holocaust education, empowering 3Gs to take ownership of their grandparents’ stories and ensuring their legacies are transmitted to future generations.

To learn more about WEDU and to get involved, visit www.3gnewyork.org.