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Struggle in Defending Memory Integrity

Kinzig School in Neuwied removes Stolpersteine in remembrance: a joint initiative with the German-Israeli Friendship Circle, aiming to combat forgetfulness.

Dedication to the Struggle Against Oblivion
Dedication to the Struggle Against Oblivion

Struggle in Defending Memory Integrity

**School without Racism – School with Courage: A German School's Commitment to Fighting Discrimination**

School without Racism – School with Courage (SOR-SMC) is a nationwide network of approximately 4,300 schools in Germany, dedicated to creating an inclusive and respectful environment where students and staff actively oppose racism and discrimination.

One such school, Kinzig School in Neuwied, has taken a tangible step towards this commitment by participating in the cleaning of Stolpersteine, small brass plaques embedded in sidewalks across Europe that commemorate victims of Nazi persecution.

On a chilly day in 2023, the 8th grade classes of Kinzig School braved the cold to clean 95 Stolpersteine in Heddesdorf and the city center. This initiative, led by school social worker Marco Schneider, was part of the nationwide "Students Help Life" day and aimed to promote remembrance culture while combining social commitment with historical education.

The project made history come alive for the students, as they learned about the victims of the Holocaust and Nazi persecution, connecting past atrocities with the present-day importance of combating racism. By cleaning Stolpersteine in their community, they took visible responsibility for preserving memory and promoting respect for human rights.

The act itself—publicly maintaining these memorials—demonstrated a commitment to not forgetting the lessons of history and to actively opposing hatred and intolerance. The project also fostered dialogue within the school and the broader community about tolerance, remembrance, and democratic values.

Kinzig School's partnership with the German-Israeli Friendship Association further strengthened this message. The collected donations from the project support disadvantaged children and young people from crisis regions, reinforcing the values of courage, equality, and active citizenship.

The students of Kinzig School received positive feedback from the public, their courageous action serving as a testament to the power of youth-led initiatives in shaping a more tolerant and inclusive future. Kinzig School and its partners plan to continue this cooperation, ensuring that the memory of the past continues to inspire action in the present and future.

In the spirit of their commitment to fighting discrimination as part of School without Racism – School with Courage, the students of Kinzig School embarked on a project focused on personal growth and education-and-self-development by cleaning Stolpersteine, fostering an understanding of history and promoting remembrance culture. This initiative, part of the "Students Help Life" day, integrated historical education with the pursuit of personal growth, contributing to a more inclusive and respectful school environment.

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