Today was our second day in Guelph at a public elementary school where Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center Educator Daniella worked with another 6 groups of excited students. There were some particularly memorable moments today as the workshops progressed. At the end of the Grade 5 Simon’s Story Workshop, one young boy stood up and announced that he wanted to "do this." When Daniella asked what he meant, he explained that he “wanted to do something to change the world. To make a positive impact and help other people.” As he was talking he was getting very emotional and had tears running down his face. His classmates around him consoled him and not one student made fun of him. Daniella found this to be a very meaningful moment, further highlighting how the Tour for Humanity establishes as a safe space where students are free to discuss important issues and process information in an emotional way that they might not normally share.

Another memorable moment came during a Grade 6/7 workshop when discussing the Holocaust. One student raised his hand and told the class that his grandparents (or great-grandparents, he wasn’t sure) had escaped the Nazis during the war because his religion was also persecuted. It turns out that he is Jehovah Witness. Daniella found this to be a different type of connection to the material that she hadn't witnessed from students before.

There was also an incredible moment with a Grade 6 student who had been born in Nigeria. She told her class about the civil war that had occurred in her country before she came to Canada and how people were targeted because of who they were as well.

The connections that students were making today were unbelievable and demonstrated a deep understanding of the material - which reflected the great work that their teachers are doing in their classrooms every day to instil a knowledge of human rights. FSWC is thrilled to be able to support this important learning!