Alex Salmond pledges to continue funding of Holocaust Educational Trust visits to Auschwitz
Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond MSP has announced renewed and increased funding for the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz Project. The additional funding will give two post-16 students from every school and college in Scotland the opportunity to participate in a one-day visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau and attend seminars where students hear testimony from a Holocaust survivor.
The announcement was made during a special Holocaust Educational Trust event today in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament, where the First Minister and other MSPs joined students and teachers who have previously participated in Holocaust Educational Trust projects. The students, all of whom are Holocaust Educational Trust Ambassadors, travelled from Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and other areas of Scotland to meet the First Minister and talk to him about their experiences.
The event was also an opportunity for Members of the Scottish Parliament to meet students to discuss their participation in the project, and explain what they have done since they returned to pass on the lessons they learnt to their local community.
The Holocaust Educational Trust welcomed today’s announcement. Funding has already enabled over 1,000 Scottish students to participate in the Lessons from Auschwitz Project since 2009.
Addressing the reception, First Minister, Alex Salmond MSP commented:
“The Holocaust Educational Trust do an incredible amount of valuable work in making sure that we never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust and the victims of the Second World War. It is absolutely crucial that future generations continue to remember the victims of the Holocaust and that we provide them with an opportunity to learn from the lessons of history.
“It is right that we continue to fund these learning opportunities to ensure that as a society we never become complacent when regarding the dangers of prejudice, intolerance, discrimination and hatred.
“This government is committed to tackling all forms of discrimination and promoting a multi-faith and multi-cultural society based on mutual trust, respect and understanding. I am pleased to announce £510,000 of further funding over the next two years to the Holocaust Education Trust so that they can continue their great work through the Lessons from Auschwitz project.”
Mhiara Mackenzie, speaking about her experience on Lessons from Auschwitz in 2009 said:
“Participating in the project was a life changing experience, one that I will never forget. Seeing Auschwitz-Birkenau with my own eyes made me appreciate how much people suffered during the Holocaust. I’m so pleased that other young people in Scotland will be able to have the opportunity that I had.”
Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust added:
“We are delighted that the Scottish Government will continue to fund our Lessons from Auschwitz Project. This will enable hundreds more Scottish students to visit the former Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. The support we receive from the Scottish Government makes the project possible, and we are enormously grateful.”