The Crocus Project is a successful European remembrance program that has been running for several years, engaging more than 100,000 young people and teachers from 12 countries. . In Hungary, the project is organized by the Holocaust Education Ireland and the Szembenézés Alapítvány (Reckoning Foundation) with the support of the ELTE PPK Institute of Education and the Hungarian Association for Progressive Education, co-funded by the European Union.
Through the project, students from educational institutions and youth organizations commemorate the 1.5 million children murdered in the Holocaust, along with millions of other young victims of prejudice, by planting crocus flowers. They also develop independent projects that reflect on local issues of prejudice and discrimination, which they present within their communities and share online, often as part of Holocaust Remembrance Day in Hungary.
The initiative, aligned with the National Core Curriculum, employs experiential learning and playful, interactive methods to engage students and encourage independent action. It deepens their historical knowledge, strengthens their empathy, and fosters open-mindedness, adaptability, and acceptance—towards others and themselves.
As a project partner, the Centropa Hungary provides educational materials and teacher training to support participants. In addition to planting flowers, educators can enrich students’ understanding with historical context and personal stories from Jewish life.
