Country: Bulgaria
School: First Language School
Duration: 4 months
Lead teacher: Nela DImova
The project aimed to educate students about the Holocaust and the Jewish community of Bulgaria during WWII. Students began by exploring the Jewish community in Varna during the war, meeting local representatives, and analyzing photos. This led them to write essays on Tsar Boris III, which they presented to their 11th-grade peers. In April, they shared a report on the National Assembly and the Tsar with the school, followed by a discussion on the role of institutions during the war. Later, they interviewed Jewish community members and specialists, gathered archival materials, and created a film, The Fate of a Community, which won first place in a national competition. Some students also visited Shumen to explore Jewish documents and monuments, as well as historical landmarks like 1300 Years of Bulgaria and the Madara Horseman. These experiences inspired reflections on how to live in the 21st century. Additionally, the students hosted a radio program on the Holocaust and presented their work during the school’s open day, discussing topics such as Bulgaria Saved Its Jews and Remembrance of the Holocaust Today, concluding with the talk Let This Be a Lesson in How to Be Human.