PTS | Free Workshop “The Educator’s Experience at Memorial Sites – Psychological Aspects, Challenges and Difficulties”

The workshop will be structured into two key parts:

1. Lecture: The session will begin with an in-depth lecture on the history of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial, providing essential context for the role of an educator in such spaces. Participants will also explore the specific responsibilities and ethical considerations involved in this work, such as balancing historical accuracy with the emotional impact on visitors.
    
2. Workshop and discussion: The second part will be an interactive workshop where participants will delve into the lived experiences of educators at memorial sites. This segment will focus on the emotional toll of working in such environments, exploring the psychological aspects of the job, such as coping with personal and collective trauma, emotional exhaustion, and the challenges of discussing sensitive historical topics. It will be an open forum for discussions, allowing participants to engage in meaningful dialogue about the difficulties and rewards of working in this field. This section will provide space for sharing best practices, discussing emotional resilience.

The workshop is led by Joanna Brusik, MA, a Polish educator at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial since 2016, who guides Spanish and English-speaking visitors.

She has been involved in introducing hybrid online tours through the “Auschwitz in Front of Your Eyes” project and recently contributed to the project called “Medical Review Auschwitz: Medicine Behind the Barbed Wire”.