Ambassador Gutmann and Holocaust survivor engage with students
Ambassador Gutmann met with Holocaust survivor Inge Auerbacher, who traveled to Germany to share her journey of survival and perseverance with high school students from Potsdam, at the Meta’s Berlin offices on September 8. Meta and StoryFile partnered with UNESCO, the World Jewish Congress, and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany to develop the interactive, immersive Holocaust education tool “Tell Me, Inge.”
Born in Germany and deported by the Nazis as a young child to Theresienstadt, along with her parents, Ms. Auerbacher survived the Holocaust and eventually emigrated to the United States. The educational tool uses virtual reality/extended reality (VR/XR) technology to bring Ms. Auerbacher’s testimony to life (https://inge.storyfile.com/). After trying the equipment, the Ambassador and Ms. Auerbacher engaged in a lively discussion with 22 high school students of the Hannah Arendt School in Potsdam, during which they stressed the importance of standing up and speaking out against all forms of hatred and bullying. The event was covered by Jüdische Allgemeine, Tagesspiegel and Bild Zeitung.
The VR/XR experience “Tell Me, Inge” will have its global launch in New York on September 20 in conjunction with UNGA High Level Week: Launch of “Tell me, Inge”, new extended reality experience about the Holocaust | UNESCO
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What an honor to meet Holocaust survivor, Inge Auerbacher in person and participate in the Meta virtual immersive experience “Tell me, Inge…” inspired by Inge’s personal experience as a survivor. Along with local high school students, I experienced Inge’s journey of survival and… pic.twitter.com/V7PJVdXYWl
— Ambassador Amy Gutmann (@USAmbGermany) September 8, 2023
Ambassador Gutmann:
“My personal journey as the daughter of a Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany drives my determination to defend democratic values and combat antisemitism. Meeting Holocaust survivors like Inge Auerbacher has taught me the power of their stories and the importance of passing on history’s lessons to the next generations.”
Inge Auerbacher:
“My hope, my wish and prayer is for every child to grow up in peace without hunger and prejudice. I plead with you, world: Make good choices. The antidote to hatred is education. No more genocides and another Holocaust, and no more anti-Semitism.”