Hope for the future lies in our youth. How can we ensure that they receive proper education to make “never again” a reality?
By Aidan Potter, TWR Fellow ‘20
Holocaust education requires an immense amount of tact, planning, and ideation. New, creative tools can help advance young readers’ understanding in order to inform them of the stories that arise and the devastation caused by acts of atrocity. With a keen awareness of the humanity and stories behind those affected by mass atrocities, prevention is possible and ready to spring into action. “Never again” can only be a reality if stories are shared and embraced. Therefore, an essential part of identity-based violence prevention is education to foster a conciousness of acts of genocide, human rights violations, and violence.
Young readers, especially children, are far smarter than they are given credit for. Children's novels that engage young minds with empathy, openness, and humility are a creative approach capable of moving entire generations further towards critical conversations about genocide and what action needs to be taken to prevent future genocide.
One specific innovative approach that has recently gained momentum is the growth of children’s and young adult literature illuminating the Holocaust. An incredibly moving novel titled Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued is a childrens story depicting the upstanding action of Sir Nicholas Winton. He was most famous for his role in the Kindertransports which brought nearly ten thousand children from Eastern Europe to the United Kingdom. Six hundred and sixty-nine children have been able to grow old and share their stories because of his actions.
The world is a brighter place because of the lives he saved, and this artistic story of his upstanding actions and humanitarian approach to life should be shared around the globe. Among the children he saved are artists, poets, and doctors and each of them nourishes our world.
Children today should be aware of the lives of these survivors, who by now have grown old, and what their rescue means in terms of the Holocaust. Innovative creations such as this children’s book have the ability to bridge generations together in a collective recognition of an upstander’s story, specifically Sir Nicholas Winton’s, and the importance of one’s actions and how they affect the next generation. Education is the first step in making “Never Again” a reality, and Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued is an example of how we can promote education across generational lines about the essential qualities of genocide prevention: empathy, openness, and humility.
Creative ideas relating to genocide education are being sparked constantly, and this children’s book is a pure example of a new approach to tune young minds into informing oneself of how to be an upstander as well as a more nourishing human to this world. Sir Nicholas Winton has an incredibly informative website that sheds more light upon the specifics of his life journey as well as the accomplishments and goals of those with the authority of correctly sharing his story.
Aidan Potter is a TWR Youth Action Fellow and a sophomore at the University of Montana.