Reaching Out to help others: from p93 and p149

Issues addressed

• Who is responsible for religious intolerance?
• Who can do things to challenge religious intolerance?
• Who is responsible for creating change in our society?
• The social and political mechanisms which divide society.

Purposes of the curriculum 3-18 

This lesson contributes toward young people becoming:

• successful learners able to link and apply different kinds of learning in new situations
• responsible citizens with respect for others and commitment to participate responsibly in political, economic, social and cultural life
• effective contributors able to take the initiative and lead

Aims

• To encourage participants to think about who is responsible for religious intolerance and how it can be challenged.
• To increase awareness of how certain actions lead to certain consequences and how changing one action can create a completely different outcome.
• To encourage participants to think about how they could change things in their lives to make them and society better and to take personal responsibility in doing so.

Time

1 hour

Group size

4-10

Age

12+

Preparation

Copy of information on Varian Fry (p93 & 149) and the White Rose Society (p34+).

Instructions

Recount how Varian Fry rescued 2000 Jews (p92) and how he and the White Rose Society (p34+) dared to speak out to help the population of Jews who were being discriminated against. Discuss how, in Germany at this time, they saw injustice and actively did something about it.

Can you think of situations in school or in your neighbourhood where you have seen people not give help, or you have stood by and watched whilst other people have suffered? How could a bystander become a responsible citizen?

Is there anything that you can do, right now, to help other people? In small groups, consider the various ways in which you may be able to help people in school, in your local community, nationally or even internationally.