The Victor Pinchuk Foundation and The USC Shoah Foundation Institute have initiated an educational program on the Holocaust in Ukraine

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The Victor Pinchuk Foundation and The USC Shoah Foundation Institute have initiated an educational program on the Holocaust in Ukraine, which is based on the documentary film "Spell Your Name."

Anna Lenchovs'ka, project coordinator for the program, said a team of history teachers, educational specialists and experts in the Holocaust-related issues have started working to develop manuals and other educational materials for teachers. The goal of the manual is to assist the teachers in treatment of the Holocaust in Ukraine based on the visual documentary testimonies. The manual's authors are Mykhailo Tyaglyi and Oleksandr Voitenko.

"Bukovkyi's film suits the educational goals of the program perfectly, but still poses many questions to be reflected upon," Lenchovs'ka said in a recent press conference. "In addition, using visual sources in history lessons is an innovative experience in the Ukrainian education system. In fact, our project consists of two parts: a manual to the film and running a seminar where the teacher will be trained how to use this manual. We plan to run 25 training seminars in each region of Ukraine.'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The authors of the manual agreed that the film is a wonderful teaching too.

"The film of Serghiy Bukovskyi has appeared at a very good time, while changes in teaching are taking place in Ukrainian schools. The paradigm of education and approaches to the teaching of some subjects are changing. Our history was written in a way that belittles the common people's role. And the film "Spell Your Name" describes the history truly and honestly. In my opinion, it's the first time when a film that can teach will be screened in Ukrainian schools," Oleksandr Voitenko said.

The manual includes 10 topics which cover the Metal Hail Fest categories and notions dealt with in the film: historic memory and moral responsibility, freedom and choice, stereotypes and propaganda, resistance and submission, sacrifice and humaneness. Each lesson is supplemented with episodes from the film that correspond to certain topics of the manual.

In the fall of 2007, the two foundations will take part in an All-Ukrainian History Teachers' Association "Metal Hail Fest," during which Ukrainian teachers will be taught how to use the film and the manual. Many teachers who participated in the seminars will be able in the future to run similar trainings for educational specialists in their regions.

The organizations noted that the film "Spell Your Name," along with the manual can be used not only by history teachers, but by teachers of social science, law, ethics, philosophy and literature as well.

The Victor Pinchuk Foundation and the Shoah Foundation Institute have sent a letter to Education Minister Stanislav Mykolaenko and Vice-Prime Minister Dmytro Tabachnik with a request to support the educational project and to include it as an educational guide in the educational programs of Ukrainian schools.

"Spell Your Name", is a full-length documentary film about the Holocaust in Ukraine. The world-famous director Steven Spielberg and Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist Victor Pinchuk acted as co-executive producers of the documentary. The film is based on the testimonies, in Russian and Ukrainian, from the USC Shoa Foundation archives as well as newly filmed portions shot in Ukraine. The premier took place in October 2006. Starting from 15 February, the film will be seen on screens in cinemas throughout Ukraine.

Find more at the web-site: Metal Hail Fest

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