Medals and more

10 Sep 2018 - by Karen Polak

As schools across Europe open their doors again for a new academic year, it is a good moment to look back at what has been achieved with Stories that Move and look ahead at some exciting new developments.

On 2 November, observing both Kristallnacht and the 70^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we have been invited to give a workshop on Stories that Move at the UN headquarters in New York. This is a moving acknowledgment of the special nature of the tool so many people have worked so hard to create.

In June, Stories that Move won an award and was finally officially launched in Berlin by Juliane Seifert, the State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. Educators from all over Europe attended the launch and international conference on 28-29 June, sharing their experiences with the tool and discussing how to reach out to more teachers.

Daniel, Márk and Nued and others spoke as ‘books’ in a Living Library, sharing their stories in intimate groups, and four students from the International School of Amsterdam closed the event by reflecting on their experience with the tool.

‘To stand up for what you believe is the experience that Stories that Move allows me and others to have, and that’s what I really appreciate about the toolbox.’ Rania Khan, student ISA Amsterdam

I am, therefore, delighted to say that our award-winning online tool is now ready to use in seven languages and that many of the teachers who have worked with it are planning presentations in their own schools and at public seminars.

We can all be proud of the work that has gone into developing the tool. On behalf of the Anne Frank House, I would like to thank all the partners in the project, the young people who shared their stories and those who tested first versions, and the educators who have supported the project as critical friends, helping us improve the tool at each stage. It has been enriching to be in contact with so many engaged people in formal and non-formal education from so many countries. As international project leader, I hope for more thoughtful feedback from existing and new users in the coming year.

Go here to see the list of upcoming seminars.