Projects

Within the framework of one, two-day or longer projects, school children and young people work on the various aspects of the history of Sachsenhausen concentration camp and of the Soviet special camp Nr.7 / Nr.1 (1945 - 1950). The themes and focus of the projects depend on the age of the pupils and the type of school they attend. In accordance with the memorial's aim to be an active and open place of 'discovery learning', participants are encouraged to work independently and responsibly within the themes. The themes include the experience of terror, dictatorship, totalitarianism, racism and mass murder conducted by the state. At the same time work on modern forms of marginalisation, racism, xenophobia and right-wing extremism play an important role.

During the project days, which need intensive preparation and concluding work, the school children work in small groups on the aspects of Sachsenhausen's history. They can use collections of material, research in the exhibitions, in the library and archive, speak with survivors of the camp and take part in theme based guided tours.

The results of these project days - small talks, readers and exhibitions are displayed in school or can be shown to a wider audience and presented in the on-site school exhibition area.

The price of the project days is €15 for groups of up to 15 and €25 for groups of up to 30 people. For a successful project a maximum of 30 people is recommended. Tours in foreign languages cost €25 extra per group. These projects have been produced for young people and are especially designed to meet the needs of schools.

Due to the popularity of the projects - especially during the morning - it is necessary to book well in advance.

Projects on offer

> SAC-P001: Museum case study: »Jewish prisoners in Sachsenhausen concentration camp«
(1. Independent work on biographies / 2. Guide and permanent exhibition »Jewish prisoners in Sachsenhausen concentration camp«.)
Min. 3 hours

> SAC-P002: Jewish prisoners in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
(Short introduction, group work, independent research in the exhibition and in other materials, closing discussion.]
4½ – 5½ hours

> SAC-P003: The historical site
(Construction and layout of the camp, Jewish prisoners, camp every day life, work, punishments, 'Station Z', infirmary and pathology building, use as a special camp. Group work, independent research in the exhibitions, closing discussion.)
4 – 5½ hours or over a few days

> SAC-P004: Everyday life for prisoners in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
(Introduction to the theme, student counselling and welfare, independent group work, work with media collection and in the permanent exhibitions, CD-ROM, closing discussion.)¹
4 – 5½ hours

> SAC-P005: Prisoners and special prisoners in the camp prison
(Group work, independent research, prisoner biographies, video, closing discussion.)
4 hours or over a few days

> SAC-P006: The Soviet special camp Nr.7 / Nr.1 (1945 - 1950)
(Tour, introduction to the permanent exhibition, group work, work with material, learner centre, closing discussion.)
5 hours or over a few days

> SAC-P007: Reasons for the imprisonment of prisoners in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
(Short tour, group work, independent research in exhibitions and material collection, closing discussion.)
4 – 5 hours

> SAC-P008: Medicine and the role of the infirmary in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
(Tour, group work with material collection / videos and eyewitness reports, independent research in the exhibitions, closing discussion.)
4½ hours or over a few days

> SAC-P009: Children in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
(Tour, work with material collection / video interviews / CD-ROM, independent research in exhibitions, closing discussion.)
5 hours

> SAC-P010: Biographies of prisoners in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
(Short tour, group work, independent research in the permanent exhibitions, work with the material collection and CD-ROM, closing discussion.) ¹
4 hours

> SAC-P011: Czech students in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
(Group work, research in the material collection, CD-ROM, recordings, prisoner biographies, closing discussion.)
4½ hours or over a few days

> SAC-P012: Forms of survival: culture and art in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
(Tour, group work, independent research in the media collection and exhibitions, work with biographies, closing discussion.)
5 hours or over a few days

> SAC-P013: Forgotten groups of victims in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
(Tour, group work, independent research in exhibitions, use of material collection, CD-ROM, memorial plaques, closing discussion.)¹
5 hours or over a few days

> SAC-P014: Plan a tour of Sachsenhausen concentration camp
(Introduction using the camp model, independent group work on 6 to 8 themes, work with material collection and exhibitions, classmates taken on tour, closing discussion.) ¹
4½ hours

> SAC-P015: Plan a tour of barracks No.38 / Jewish prisoners in Sachsenhausen concentration camp
(Introduction with the camp model, introduction to the exhibitions, independent group work in the exhibitions and with the material collection to 8 themes, classmates taken on tour, closing discussion.)

Workcamps

Work camps connect historical learning in an authentic setting with practical work to care for and protect the memorial. They also offer participants the opportunity to make important social experiences. Working together with people of different religions and from different countries encourages the participants to think about discrimination and marginalisation in today's society. In addition to the landscaping and repair work undertaken, the participants take part in research activities in the archive and library, speak to eyewitnesses and take part in tours of Sachsenhausen and other memorials in Berlin and Brandenburg. An important part of the work during the camps is the common free time shared with young people from the region of Oberhavel.

The work camps are organised together with partner organisations such as 'Aktion Sühnezeichen/Friedensdienste', 'Vereinigung Junger Freiwilliger' and 'Norddeutsche Jugend in Gemeinschaftsdiensten'.

The participants are looked after by the memorial's visitor service, take part in guided tours, talks, speak to eyewitnesses, research in the archive and library and undertake practical work in the memorial. Work camps last for a minimum of two days or go on for up to two weeks.