Young people from Gerrei at the centre of an educational programme combining historical remembrance, active citizenship and civic responsibility.
The project “A Journey of Remembrance – from Gerrei to Auschwitz” concluded with the return of its young participants. It was promoted by the Unione dei Comuni del Gerrei, with technical support from Focus Europe ETS, and delivered with funding from the Fondazione di Sardegna – 2025 Local Development Call.
The initiative involved young women and men living in the municipalities of Gerrei in an educational and experiential programme dedicated to Holocaust remembrance, historical understanding and the promotion of active citizenship. The project aimed to offer young people in the area a practical opportunity for cultural and civic growth, connecting the value of remembrance with individual responsibility, peace, inclusion and respect for human rights.
The programme consisted of an introductory phase of study and an educational visit to Kraków and Auschwitz-Birkenau, during which participants were able to visit some of the landmarks of European remembrance. The itinerary included the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp, the city of Kraków, Schindler’s Factory, the Galicia Jewish Museum and other places of great historical and cultural significance.
The preliminary educational phase was particularly significant, taking place through the public meeting “Remembrance and Citizenship: Voices and Testimonies for the Future”, which provided an opportunity for preparation and reflection ahead of the visit. Speakers included Dr Marco Caviglia, Head of Education and Remembrance Visits at the Fondazione Museo della Shoah, and Federica Pannocchia, President and Founder of the association “Un ponte per Anne Frank”, who offered the young participants contributions of considerable human, historical and educational value.
The project provided an important opportunity to strengthen younger generations’ historical awareness, turning the study of the Holocaust into a direct and deeply educational experience. Visiting places of remembrance enabled the young people to engage with history in a practical way, encouraging reflection on the present and the role each person can play in building a more aware, respectful and inclusive society.
Focus Europe ETS wishes to thank the Fondazione di Sardegna for supporting and co-funding the initiative, the Unione dei Comuni del Gerrei for promoting the project, the municipalities involved for their institutional cooperation, Dr Marco Caviglia and Federica Pannocchia for their valuable educational contribution, the accompanying adults and everyone who contributed to delivering the activities.
Special thanks go to the young women and men who took part, approaching the programme with attentiveness, respect and maturity, and becoming active witnesses to an experience that does not end with the visit, but continues through storytelling, sharing and everyday commitment.
Remembrance is more than recalling the past: it is responsibility towards the present and an investment in the future.
