In a recent article for their school newspaper, HKIS students reflected on the visit of Sergeant Rick Carrier, liberator of Buchenwald and veteran of the Second World War, during which he addressed an estimated 800 students.

From their powerful words, it appears Sergeant Carrier’s account sensitized them not only to the power and importance of first-hand testimony, but also to the complexity of that time in history. We hope the students will continue on their quest to learn more about the events and processes of the Second World War and the Holocaust.

On Wednesday, January 28, HKHTC Director of Education, Simon Goldberg, delivered a talk at the “Talking Genocides” forum organized by the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at Hong Kong University to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. 50 doctoral students and academics were in attendance.

Simon’s talk dealt with the scholary discourse on Holocaust representation and issues within the field of comparative genocide studies. Fellow panelist and moderator, Dr Roland Vogt of HKU’s Department of European Studies, addressed the role of the Holocaust in European political imagination and culture. Finally, Dr Facil Tesfaye of HKU’s African Studies Department discussed the role of census data/statistics in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and its legacy for African politics and peacekeeping on the continent.

Dr Tesfaye’s new book, Statisques(s) et génocide au Rwanda: La genèse d’un système de catégorisation génocidaire, was also launched on this occasion.

Alongside the United States Consulate in Hong Kong and Macau, the HKHTC arranged for Sergeant Carrier to address the following nine schools across the region: St. Stephens Girls’ College, Elsa High School, Kellett School, Po Leung Kok Laws Foundation College, Hong Kong International School, NLSI Lui Kwok Pat Fong College, Hong Kong University, Discovery College and Sha Tin College.

Sergeant Carrier spoke about his experience as a solider in the Second World War, recounted the liberation of Buchenwald, and shared his advice for fighting bigotry and intolerance today.

In total, 2,500 students (aged 12-22) were present for Sergeant Carrier’s talks.

Sergeant Carrier’s visit to Hong Kong was covered by Apple Daily, CNN, and Phoenix TV.

To mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Centre will hosted its first-ever half-day teachers’ workshop on themes relevant to the end of the Second World War and liberation.

The three talks included pedagogical methodologies for classroom use. Speakers were Simon Goldberg and Prof. Glenn Timmermans (Faculty of Arts & Humanities, University of Macau) and Miguel Maneros De Lemos (Faculty of Law at University of Macau).

The workshop was attended by 45 secondary school and university educators from Hong Kong and Macao, representing the following faculties: History, English, Philosophy, and Religious Studies.

On January 23, 2015, to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Hong Kong Holocaust and Tolerance Centre will hosted its first-ever half-day teachers’ workshop on themes relevant to the end of the Second World War and liberation.

The three talks included pedagogical methodologies for classroom use. Speakers were Simon Goldberg and Prof. Glenn Timmermans (HKHTC) and Miguel Maneros De Lemos (Faculty of Law at University of Macau).

The workshop was attended by 45 secondary school and university educators from Hong Kong and Macao, representing the following faculties: History, English, Philosophy, and Religious Studies.