Northside primary school helps launch the Crocus Project

Sixth class students from St. Vincent’s GNS in the North Inner City were at Dublin Castle recently to help launch a national initiative aimed at educating schoolchildren about the Holocaust.

The Crocus Project by Holocaust Education Ireland seeks to educate schoolchildren over 10 across the island about the Holocaust and the dangers of racism, and all forms of discrimination and hatred.

The students planted crocus bulbs to commemorate over 1.5 million Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust and hundreds of thousands of other children who were victims of Nazi atrocities.

They joined the EU’s Head Representation in Ireland, Barbara Nolan and Cllr Conroy who was representing the Dublin Lord Mayor’s office at the event. Ambassadors from 16 countries across the globe also attended the official launch.

Over 400 schools across the island have already signed up for the initiative.

They will plant bulbs in the next few weeks that will bloom in time for International Holocaust Memorial Day on 27th January. Holocaust Education Ireland (HEI) provides yellow crocus bulbs, a Teacher’s Handbook, and guidance to each school.

The yellow crocuses recall the yellow Star of David that Nazis forced Jews to wear to identify them from the general population.

The launch ceremony, which took place last Tuesday (17th), was opened by HEI chairperson, Professor Thomas O’Dowd. He said the project is “an important opportunity to introduce young people to the subject of the Holocaust. It teaches the importance of inclusion and respect for all people regardless of their ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs.”

“We must remain vigilant about attempts to deny, distort and trivialise the Holocaust,” said Barbara Nolan, Head of the EU Commission’s Representation in Ireland.

“That is why the work of Holocaust Education Ireland is so important. The Crocus Project, in memory of the children who perished in the Holocaust, is a very positive way to reach out to young people and help their understanding of the darkest chapter in European history.”

Speaking about the event, Irish Holocaust survivor Suzi Diamond said she was “mindful that time is passing too quickly for my contemporaries and for me. What we experienced took place in the middle of the last century, far too distant for young people today to understand the enormity of what happened; six million Jews murdered because of their faith, more than the population of Ireland.”

“I urge young people to speak out about hate speech, about bullying and about Holocaust denial. I implore them to tell our story and to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive.”

Schools can register to participate at: https://www.holocausteducationireland.org/crocus-project. Information packs provided include age-appropriate material, posters, and a booklist.

The handbook is available in English, Irish and 12 European languages.

Cllr Deirdre Conroy says the Crocus Project “helps students understand the importance of inclusion and tolerance for all people. They are learning from the injustices of the past and cultivating a more caring and inclusive Ireland.”

The Crocus Project was launched by the HEI in 2011, and they have since introduced it to 10 other countries. These are Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

The Crocus Project is co-funded by the European Union and supported by the Department of Education.

Any readers who would like to learn more about The Crocus Project should go to:
www.holocausteducationireland.org/crocus-project