The project “ENGAGE: Jewish Women from Greece and Germany in the 20th Century” aimed at strengthening the understanding between Greek and German civil societies through intercultural exchange and cooperation among eight university students: four from Greece and four from Germany. During our eight-month program, participants took part in educational visits to Munich and Dachau in Germany, as well as to Patras in Greece, and engaged in both online and in-person workshops. In early November, the group met in Patras, where they visited the Archaeological Museum of Patras and the historic Achaia Clauss winery, deepening their connection through shared cultural experiences.
Under the guidance of the scientific coordinator Alexandra Patrikiou (TEPEKE, University of Patras), Fabian Rühle (Centropa) and Markus Freundorfer, students from the University of Patras, the University of Augsburg, and the University of Hamburg created an educational graphic novel based on stories of Jewish women from the Centropa Archive. Through the study of the history of Jewish communities in Germany and Greece, and especially the role of Jewish women, the project promotes a balanced and gender-aware approach to Holocaust remembrance. At the same time, it equipped future educators with the necessary skills to teach about the Holocaust and 20th-century Jewish history, fostering an understanding of the dangers of hatred and the value of diversity. Ultimately, the project seeked to empower young educators to stand up against antisemitism, racism, and hate speech, and to promote democratic values such as dialogue, mutual respect, and solidarity.
