Anne Frank Youth Network
A global network of youth taking action
Are you between 16 and 26 years old and do you want to make an impact both locally and globally? Do you want to raise awareness of the dangers of prejudice, discrimination, racism and anti-Semitism? Join the Anne Frank Youth Network.
The Anne Frank Youth Network is a growing global network built on volunteering, which exists to actively engage and support you in the work you find important. Inspired by Anne Frank’s diary and her lifestory, all activities aim to raise awareness, increase active citizenship, foster dialogue and democratic values today. You will act as a peer educator; this is when youth teach other youth. Together you will make a positive contribution to society!
We provide you with the tools necessary to take action and make a difference.
AFYN to me is a place of great opportunities and inspiration and people who are passionate about their work. My motivation to be a part of it is feeling the need to share important information with others.
Anička, Náchod
What will I learn?
Being a member of the Anne Frank Youth Network allows you to not only learn about history and its relevance for today, but to also,
- Learn new skills such as project managment and teamwork
- Challenge discrimination, racism and prejudice through activities and trainings
- Have an impact on your local community by creating and executing your own educational activities
- Arrange social media campaigns to create engagement among your peers
- Be part of a growing global community
I joined the Anne Frank Youth Network to learn more about issues close to my heart - Anne Frank, the Holocaust, democracy, and human rights in general. Since the beginning of November, the whole project has brought me a lot of great experiences and learning - whether it's connecting with young people all over Europe, communicating in English or preparing and leading workshops for primary school.
Antonie, Nymburk
How can I get involved?
If you are interested in becoming part of the Anne Frank Youth Network in the Czech Republic, please do not hesitate to contact us. Send us an email to the coordinator - Thomas Elmecker - or post on our social media - Instagram and Facebook.
We can provide you with further information, connect you with other interested young people from the Czech Republic and participants from previous years.
You can also find more information on the official website of the Anne Frank Youth Network and on their social media.
What's next?
After completing your first activity in your own country you will then get the opportunity to participate in a two day national training. You will learn to teach about the importance of the stories of WWII and the Holocaust. Together we explore why these stories are still relevant today, by discussing identity, prejudice, discrimination and democracy. Together with other peer educators you will get to organise your very own project.
AFYN means new opportunities for me and my future. Thanks to AFYN, I am overcoming my fear of speaking in front of many people and I even enjoy it. I really hope that I will be able to do even more in the future.
Kája, Nymburk
Want to do even more?
Once you have completed the two day course and your own project you will stay involved with the Anne Frank Youth Network. You will get the opportunity to mentor new members and independently organise more educational projects. Furthermore you will get access to further experiential and learning opportunities, such as internships at the Anne Frank House and partner organisations.
We look forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions.
Last Friday, a group of exchange students from the USA visited us in Jáchymka for a workshop we organised in cooperation with @vertoeducation. During the time we spent together, we discussed the repressions and regulations that gradually eroded the rights of Jews in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia and how they affected them. In one activity we discussed what an ordinary day might be like for us, and then we saw how, over time, personal life became more and more restricted and participation in society was forbidden.
One of the tasks of our Institute is to draw attention to the historical events and context of the phenomenon for which the name Holocaust has been adopted. One of the most tragic events that officially triggered the Nazi rampage and the persecution of the Jewish population of Europe happened exactly 86 years ago, on the night of 9-10 November. The Nazis themselves called it Kristallnacht, after the shattered windows of Jewish shops, homes and synagogues. Post-war history also knows it as the Reich Pogrom.
Last Saturday afyn.cz got together and held their very own zine workshop.
The history of zines (which are small DIY magazines) is characterised by their use by marginalised groups in particular to express themselves artistically and the issues that mattered to them, both cheaply and quickly. After learning about the rich history of zines, we got right down to making our own. At the end of the workshop we presented our little creations to each other and saw all the beautiful ways in which zines can be used: From making your own little comic book to creating an informative brochure, anything is possible.
On the occasion of the German publication of F. R. Kraus' book Gas, Gas, Then Fire, one of the very first reports on the Holocaust, a there will be a meeting with the author's son and ITI Director Tomas Kraus. The event is held, among others, in cooperation with our long-time partner Brücke-Most-Stiftung.
It is with deep sadness that we have received the news of the death of Professor Yehuda Bauer, one of the world's foremost historians of the Holocaust and anti-Semitism. His research and teaching contributed greatly to our understanding of the tragic events of the 20th century and their implications for contemporary society. His determination to lead us to a deeper understanding of human nature and the need to combat hatred and intolerance will always remain an inspiration.
The Terezín Initiative Institute expresses its deepest condolences to his family and all those who were affected by his life and work.
In Professor Bauer we are losing not only an expert, whose opinion has always been extremely valuable to us, but also a compatriot and close friend.
This week, Thomas and Laurenz visited the School of International and Public Relations in Prague-Nusle and held a workshop there with pupils from the Matura classes. The activity ‘Just an ordinary day’ was used to illustrate the effects of anti-Jewish laws and regulations during the Nazi era. In group work, the participants were able to compile and analyse information about the actual circumstances using original documents.
We would like to thank you for the invitation and the lively discussions with the pupils.
As an institute, our work is based on three main pillars:
- The Institute researches the history of Nazi persecution in the Czech lands and Europe.
- It commemorates and documents its victims.
- It educates against manifestations of racism, anti-Semitism, and xenophobia.
Education is a key tool for preventing anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, and other forms of hatred that led to tragedies such as the Holocaust. Essential elements in education include: