GERMANY PRO HOLOCAUST EDUCATION

United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), National Information Officer, Usia Nkhoma-Ledama delivering a message from the UN Secretary General’s to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust of 1933.

By Damas Makangale, MOblog Tanzania

THE Federal Republic of Germany is strongly supports the international cooperation in Holocaust education through the European Union, the United Nations and other International bodies in today’s globalized world.

Speaking to invited guests during the International day of commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust today in Dar es Salaam, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, First Secretary, Holger Pfingsten said that teaching about the Holocaust is not limited in educating students about historical facts but to make them understand the consequences of Hitler’s dictatorship.

“The uniqueness of the Holocaust and to make them appreciate the values and institutions that ensure and protect our freedom and democracy today and to encourage them to take an active role in safeguarding these achievements,’ he said.

He said that education in Germany as a consequence of the Nazi period is federalized and therefore the responsibility of the German States and education policy is however coordinated on a national level by a council of the cultural ministers of every State.

First Secretary, Head Administration, Federal German Embassy, Holger Pfingsten with some students following attentively the commemoration in memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.

Pfingsten added that they approve the common guidelines for teaching and Education about the Nazi Period is part of the compulsory curriculum of all German schools at all levels of education and the Holocaust is treated as the most important aspect.

“A crime against Humanity and all its values on an unimaginable scale committed by Germans that fills us with grieve, shock and above all deep shame,” he underscored.

He further noted that the media play a key role while Germany to this day has a strong public broadcasting sector which is obliged to put a particular emphasis on information about the Nazi period and the Holocaust in particular.

On her part United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) National Information Officer, Usia Nkhoma Ledama who delivered a speech on behalf of the UN Secretary General, Ban ki- Moon said that the UN was founded to prevent any such horror from happening again.

“Yet tragedies from Cambodia to Rwanda to Srebrenica show that the poison of genocide still flows,”

“We must be ever vigilant against bigotry, extremist ideologies, communal tensions and discrimination against minorities,” she explained.

First Secretary, Head Administration, Federal German Embassy, Holger Pfingsten gives a key note message to invited dignitaries during the International day of commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

Students from Secondary schools and Universities listening attentively during the ongoing session of the international day of commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

Section of Secondary school and University students viewing a live video of “Blinky and me”.

UNIC, National Information Officer, Usia Nkhoma-Ledama overseeing Questions and answers session after viewing the video “Blinky and me” to Secondary and University students in Dar es Salaam to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust.

Above and below: Students from Secondary schools and Universities airing their views about Holocaust Education around the Globe and role of youth in promoting and protecting Peace and tranquility across the world.

First Secretary, Head Administration, Federal German Embassy, Holger Pfingsten, elaborate a point to students during the International day of Holocaust Victims.