Become a Presenter

Participate in Carrying Holocaust Testimony

Share Your Family’s Story. Preserve Holocaust Memory for Future Generations.

Carrying Holocaust Testimony is always looking for Holocaust survivors and descendants of survivors who are willing to share their family’s history as part of our educational program for schools, law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and places of worship across Canada.

As survivor voices become fewer, this work becomes increasingly important. Our program ensures that Holocaust testimony continues to be heard directly from survivors through recorded interviews, combined with live presentations delivered by their children or grandchildren.

If you are a survivor or a descendant of a survivor and feel ready to share your family’s story, we would be honoured to work with you.

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Who Can Participate

We are currently seeking:

  • Holocaust survivors who are able and comfortable speaking about their experiences

  • Children or grandchildren of Holocaust survivors who are prepared to present their family’s story in a public/educational environment

  • Individuals who are committed to Holocaust education, remembrance, and combating antisemitism and hate

The most important requirement is a willingness to engage audiences—especially students—in a thoughtful, respectful, and meaningful way.

What the Program Involves

Each Carrying Holocaust Testimony presentation is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer period.

The presentation includes:

  • A structured narrative of your family’s history (before, during, and after the Holocaust)

  • A professionally recorded video interview with the survivor (if available)

  • Historical context and educational framing

  • Family photographs and archival materials

  • Personal reflections and lived family memory

The presentation is delivered online as well as in person in schools and community settings and can be adapted for both small and large audiences.

Your Role as a Presenter

As a presenter, you play a central role in bringing your family’s story to life.

We will work closely with you to:

  • Prepare for the recorded survivor interview

  • Professionally record your interview and help select the clips to be used in your presentation

  • Develop and structure your presentation

  • Build a clear, engaging, and educational PowerPoint presentation

  • Ensure the content aligns with educational standards and audience needs

However, presenters are expected to:

  • Know and understand their family’s story in depth

  • Help organize the material into a clear and meaningful narrative

  • Be comfortable speaking publicly to students and community audiences

  • Deliver presentations a minimum of 4 times per school year (minimum commitment)

We provide guidance and support throughout the process, but the strength of the program comes from the authenticity of your lived family connection.

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Survivor Participation Requirement

A unique and essential part of Carrying Holocaust Testimony is the inclusion of video testimony from the survivor.

For this reason:

  • The Holocaust survivor must be living at the time of enrollment in the program

  • We conduct a professionally recorded interview that becomes part of the presentation

  • This interview is used by descendants during live presentations to ensure the survivor’s voice is directly included

This combination of live storytelling and recorded testimony creates a powerful educational experience that connects past and present.

Cost and Support

There is no cost to participate in the program.

We believe that Holocaust education should never be limited by financial barriers. However, if possible, we do ask participants to consider a voluntary donation to help offset the cost of:

  • Professional video recording and editing

  • Production of educational materials

  • Program development and support

Getting Started

We understand that deciding to share your family’s story is a meaningful and personal decision. If you are considering participation, we encourage you to reach out.

We can move quickly through the onboarding process and will guide you step-by-step, including:

  • An introductory conversation

  • Discussion of your family history and presentation approach

  • Interview planning and scheduling

  • Presentation development support