Terezin
Initiative
The Terezin Initiative is an association
of Holocaust survivors in the Czech Republic.
After the fall of the communist regime, the former Jewish
prisoners of Terezin and other concentration camps used
the possibility to organize themselves outside the then
existing official organizations.
The Terezin Initiative was founded in 1991, on the 50th
anniversary of the first transport from Prague to Lodz,
which was connected with a large commemorative act. For
many former prisoners, this was the first occasion after
a long time to meet their fellow-prisoners and friends.
The major task of the Terezin Initiative is to represent
the Holocaust survivors living in the Czech Republic, to
enforce their legal and other claims connected with the
persecution during the World War II, and to boost their
influence within the Czech public.
The Terezin Initiative takes care of the social and healthcare
needs of its members and tries to help in improving quality
of their life.
The Terezin Initiative organizes or sponsors different cultural
events related to the Holocaust and especially to the Terezin
concentration camp.
The Terezin Initiative makes an effort at keeping the memory
of the Holocaust alive and to commemorate the victims of
Nazi murderous policy. It wants to contribute to the improvement
of the Holocaust education in Czech schools and to raise
general awareness about the Holocaust among Czech public.
Currently, two main educational projects take place.
The Terezin Initiative sponsors fact-finding trips of Czech
schools to Terezin.
The second project is an educational website about the Holocaust.
Besides this, the members of the Terezin Initiative participate
in numerous discussions with school children in the Czech
Republic as well as abroad.
In 1992, the Terezin Initiative has founded a special institute
devoted to the scientific research of the history of Terezin
and of the "final solution of the Jewish question"
in Czech Lands.
Originally its name was Terezin Initiative Foundation; at
the end of 1998 it was renamed to Terezin Initiative Institute
(Institut Terezinske iniciativy).
The Terezin Initiative publishes its newsletter Terezinska
iniciativa that informs the members of all the important
activities, news, cultural events etc. The newsletter serves
also as a forum for publishing different messages to the
eyewitnesses and for connecting people who lost contact
with their relatives or fellow-prisoners. Since year 2000
the newsletter is also published on the Internet.
The Terezin Initiative is led by a board of approximately
twenty representatives elected at the annual assembly of
its members. The chairman of the Terezin Initiative is currently
PhDr. Dagmar Lieblova.
The current by-laws allow to apply for the membership for
all Holocaust survivors who live or lived in the Czech Republic
or who were imprisoned in Terezin; and for their family
members.
Address: Maiselova 18, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic
Office: Jachymova 3, 110 00 Prague 1, Czech Republic
Phone/Fax: +420/2/22 31 06 81
Email: terezinskainiciativa@cmail.cz
, institute@terezinstudies.cz
update : 2002 |