“A Game to Remember”: Immerse Yourself in Stories That Change the World
The Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community and its partners are launching “A Game to Remember,” an innovative project where history comes to life through interactive detective games. We invite you to travel back in time and experience the stories of Holocaust survivors ina new, engaging way.The European historical experience serves as a fundamental pillar of the European Union’s values. Today, as we face historical distortions, threats of war, and rising hatred, the preservation of memory and education about the events of the past century are more important than ever. We must remember the destructive power of authoritarian regimes, the significance of resistance, the tragedy of the Holocaust, and other historical turning points.
Only by understanding the past can we strengthen democracy and build a more peaceful future. The Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community, together with a team of educators from Lithuania, has developed an interactive tool based on the principles of a detective game. This tool helps students expand their knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of Holocaust history in Lithuania. The educational research is based on Icchokas Rudaševskis’s “Vilnius Ghetto Diary.”
During the session, participants will solve a series of interconnected detective tasks and puzzles, ultimately leading one of the investigation teams to uncover the mystery of the study.
Who Are We?
We are an international team from five European countries: Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, and Spain. Our mission is to collect and preserve Holocaust testimonies, transforming them into powerful educational tools.
What Do We Do?
• Develop interactive games: We transform real Holocaust stories into five detective- style games, similar to escape rooms. These games invite you to investigate, solve puzzles, and uncover the truth about resistance to the Nazi regime.
• Educate and train: Our project is designed for teachers, education specialists, community leaders, and anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Holocaust history.
• Promote remembrance: We strive to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive, especially among young people, ensuring that these lessons help us build a more tolerant and open society.
Why Is This Important?
In today’s world, where antisemitism and disinformation are on the rise, it is more critical than ever to remember the mistakes of the past. Our games not only teach history but also foster:
• Critical thinking
• Empathy and understanding
• Resistance to hatred and intolerance
Key Activities of the Two-Year Project:
Development of the game script and methodology: The Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak)
Community worked alongside a team of Lithuanian educators from Alytus, Vilnius and
Kaunas. These educators participated in specialized training in Varna, Bulgaria, where
they learned techniques and methodological approaches for developing such games.
They remained involved as game curators, methodological contributors and idea
developers, conducting training in their schools and actively contributing to the script
and concept development.
• Creation and implementation of the historical-detective lesson: An educational lesson, “Dienoraščio keliu,” was designed for Lithuania’s younger generation based on the detective-game principle. This lesson explores the period of World War II, focusing on Holocaust history in the Vilnius Ghetto.
• Focus group organization and game testing: Lithuanian students and educators formed focus groups to test and pilot the game, leading to further refinement of the methodology.
• Training for teachers and educators: The project included training sessions for education professionals, introducing them to the game's purpose, content, and methodology. These meetings aimed to provide opportunities for more interactive and accessible Holocaust education.
• Project presentations: Public presentations of the GREM educational study took place at various Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community events, not limited to those directly related to the project. These presentations discussed the application of the methodology in educational institutions and introduced the methodological materials.
• Online training via Zoom: Educators from across Lithuania were given the opportunity to participate in remote, personalized seminars to familiarize themselves with the project specifics, receive training, and gain access to methodological materials for implementing the study in their communities.
Final Project Outcome:
The Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community together with a team of educators from Lithuania, has created an interactive tool based on detective game principles. This tool helps students expand their knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of Holocaust history in Lithuania. The educational research is based on Icchokas Rudaševskis’s “Vilnius Ghetto Diary.” During the session, participants solve a series of interconnected detective tasks, riddles and puzzles, ultimately leading one of the investigation teams to uncover the mystery of the study. Join us!
• Try the game: Participate in our events and experience “A Game to Remember.”
• Become an ambassador: Help us spread the word about this project and its significance.
• Follow us: Stay updated with our news and join our community.
“A Game to Remember” is more than just a game – it is a journey into the past that helps us understand the present and build a better future.
Our partners:
• VAZMOZHNOSTI BEZ GRANITSI (Bulgaria)
• Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community (Lithuania)
• AHEAD – ASSOCIACIO D'EDUCADORS EN DRETS HUMANS (Spain)
• Gláser Jakab Emlékalapítvány (Hungary)
• AMARO DROM EV – INTERKULTURELLE JUGENDSELBSTORGANISATION VON ROMA UND NICHTROMA (Germany)
Contact us:
If you have any questions or are interested in conducting this study in your classroom, please contact us at ruta@lzb.lt.
The Lithuanian Jewish (Litvak) Community organizes online training sessions via the Zoom platform, where participants receive detailed guidance on preparing for the study and access to methodological materials.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
