General

Currently, we are living in times of war, uncertainty, increasing antisemitism, and intolerance towards minorities, at the peak of a migration crisis, as the world has not seen since World War II. To avoid repeating the same mistakes from the past, young people must understand the parallel circumstances in history and how each of us is responsible for contributing to the future, for establishing peace in the world, and for promoting human rights. The Elie Wiesel Study Tour, "Explore the past. Shape the future!" is an award-winning program at the Romanian Youth Gala (cultural section) in 2017. It offers students the opportunity to understand the political, social, and cultural forces that created and perpetuated the Holocaust, allows them to witness the horrors of Auschwitz, and aims to increase the understanding of participants about undemocratic regimes. Throughout this process and through reflection exercises led by program coordinators, students will gain a greater appreciation for democratic values, the significance of open and responsible governance, and the merits of increasing diversity and openness in each of our communities.

The 2023 edition included visits to the Elie Wiesel Memorial House, the Jewish Quarter of Budapest, the "Shoes Along the Danube" Memorial, Dachau Concentration Camp, Theresienstadt Concentration Camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Complex, Kazimierz Jewish Quarter in Krakow, and Schindler's Factory. Participants engaged in various team-building activities, debates, workshops, and information sessions relevant to the program's theme.

The sixth edition of the Elie Wiesel Study Tour was open to university students aged 20 to 27 from all over Romania, studying in diverse fields, enrolled at a university (undergraduate, master's, or doctoral program), with knowledge of the Holocaust and a strong motivation to study more on this topic. These students could be either in Romania or at an international university. Eligible applications should have also demonstrated a strong interest in better understanding critical days from our past to positively influence the days ahead. A total of 15 students from Romania participated.

After the study tour, under the supervision of the program coordinator, all participants will carry out dissemination activities in their communities. These activities can be diverse and may include public presentations, organized discussions with peers and/or professors, and writing articles for newspapers, school magazines, and university journals.

The opinions expressed within the follow-on projects under the auspices of the Elie Wiesel Study Tour 2023 do not represent the official position of the U.S. Embassy, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Romania, the Polish Institute in Bucharest, the Embassy of the State of Israel, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Romania, the National Institute for the Study of the Holocaust Elie Wiesel in Romania, the American Councils for International Education, or other program partners.

IMPORTANT: 
Applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria, which can be found on the current edition's webpage.

Selection is based on the quality and complexity of your responses, your interest in the program, dissemination plans, level of English language proficiency, and knowledge of the subject.

Throughout the tour, the group of students is accompanied by a teacher with a strong general background in history, especially regarding the Holocaust. Teachers will provide additional information to participants, engage in discussions with them, and help them better understand the knowledge they will gain during the study tour. Additionally, participants will be recommended films and books related to the themes covered, followed by group reflection discussions.

If you have any questions, you can contact us via email at ewstudytour@americancouncils.org.