Living memories: Voluntary service with victims of Nacism in Czech Republic
From 16th to 19th of March I visited Berlin, the capital of Germany, with one of my clients from Živá pamět by train.
The 81-year old lady (who was born in Ostrava) and me were invited by the "Stiftung EVZ" (a german foundation for projects which deals with victims of Nacism) and my sending organisation "Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste" (ASF). They organized a panel discussion (on the podium) on March 17th in the building of "Stiftung EVZ". My instructor of ASF in Berlin, Thomas Heldt (who prepared us very well for this event), interviewed us on the stage. In front of 70 people we have been asked many questions. They were about the life in czech republic, the organisation "Živá pamět", my typical work week - I also talked about Vesnička - and about the relationship between the client and me. Later the audience could also ask questions. In the end of the event there was a little welcome with wine and nice conversations. The panel discussion was also visited by Tomáš Jelinek; prezident of the czech-german fund for future (Česky-německy Fond budoucnosti?:D). Also the head of my organisation ASF, some representatives of Živá pamět and EVZ and previous volunteers like my precursor Pia attended.
Furthermore we had an interesting programme in Berlin. Beneath many lunches and dinners we visited the jewish museum, the New synagoge and the memorial for the murdered jews of Europe. On tuesday afternoon we had an interview with the german radio channel "Deutschlandfunk". We were accomodated in an hotel in "Kreuzberg" in the city centre. In the evening there was time for me to go outside with friends and other volunteers. Although it could be also exhausting to be responsible all the time for an old woman and we had much programme, it was a very nice and interesting experience. My client enjoyed this trip a lot and I admire that she has so much energy and vitality. And Berlin is just a great city!
About Mrs S.: During the time of nacism my client was prisoned with a her jewish family in a work camp in Slovakia when she was between 7 and 11 years old. Fortunately they could escape and were hidden by a family in a village near the camp in a bunker. They lived in the bunker seven weeks until the war ended. After the war she studied and became a teacher for Russian, Czech, German and English. Today she visits schools and tells about her life, attends meetings in the jewish community and lives in Haviřov.
http://www.stiftung-evz.de/service/termine/2015/asf-freiwillige-besuchen-ns-opfer.html
(Official discription of the panel discussion in german, I also sent it in pdf)
http://www.stiftung-evz.de/eng/service/dates/panel-discussion-living-memories-ms-skacelova-and-benjamin.html
(Discription in english)
http://www.deutschlandfunk.de/aktion-suehnezeichen-friedensdienst-damit-die-erinnerung-am.680.de.html?dram:article_id=314737
(Radio-interview, text and audio - but in german :D)
Benjamin Brow
