“I got more out of Centropa than my other professional developments.”
Yim Tam, Los Angeles (CSA 2017)
Participant Testimonies
There is no better ambassador for the impact of the Centropa Summer Academy (CSA) than its former participants. While we might sound biased, many describe the CSA as truly life-changing—not a one-off experience, but the beginning of lasting connections and a new way of teaching within a global network of educators that continues long after the program ends.
“The CSA expanded my perspective, allowing me to connect with Jewish communities around the world as well as non-Jews eager to learn about Jewish history. It was unique in its approach: learning about Jewish life in Europe before and after WWII, visiting historical sites, and meeting Jews living in Europe today to hear about their perception of Jewish identity after the fall of communism in the late 1980s was deeply moving. I felt reconnected to my own people, almost like meeting distant relatives. Meeting teachers from other countries, both Jews and non-Jews, to learn and work on projects together added another layer to the experience, making it relevant for all humanity, not just the Jewish people. I think that is the most important lesson about the Holocaust.”
Maya Ashkenazi, Israel
Budapest and Belgrade through the Eyes of Joshua Ault (CSA 2025)
Joshua Ault teaches journalism to high school students. So, of course, when he joined 61 other teachers from 16 countries at the CSA 2025, he had to share what he experienced through video—and he did a great job!
What were the three best things about the CSA?
1: The variety of activities and field trips using Berlin as our classroom. Everyday I looked forward to the day’s activities.
2: Learning about Centropa resources and planning a lesson, as well as listening to other educators present their lessons.
3: The interactions with wonderful educators from so many different countries.
Luz Brito, Bronx, NY (CSA 2024)
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“The Centropa Summer Academy was more focused on the classroom and the work that teachers are doing rather than just lectures. This was more hands-on and creative. Centropa allows teachers to learn from each other and make connections"
Amanda Stockett, English teacher, North Carolina (CSA 2019)
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"The CSA inspired me to use Centropa materials not only for teaching Jewish history, but also to explore broader topics like modernity, everyday life, and the complexities of remembrance culture.'
Daniel Bernsen, Germany/ Mexico
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"The most important thing I learned at the Centropa Summer Academy was the importance of transnational perspective in our deepening understanding of history."
Natalie White, English/Holocaust teacher, Wisconsin (CSA 2024)
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"The Summer Academy also changed the way I think about teaching: instead of focusing only on the numbers of victims, I now want to show my students the resilience, faith in life, and stories of survival and sacrifice"
Marina Megelbey, Ukraine
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"The greatest value of the CSA for me came from the combination of personal storytelling, site-based learning, and international collaboration."
Dajana Vukadin, Croatia
