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Hilda Dajč International Digital Holocaust Memory Award

2026-05-28

Hilda Dajč International Digital Holocaust Memory Award recognizes excellence, ethical integrity, and innovation in the digital memorialization of the Holocaust.

Exchange study visit: Canada through the lens of memory culture

2026-05-27

Terraforming took part in a study visit to the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre VHEC, in Canada, with the support of the ENCATE and IHRA exchange program.

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The post Innovation in Holocaust remembrance first appeared on Terraforming.

Hilda Dajč International Digital Holocaust Memory Award

Nemanja Stevanović — Thu, 28 May 2026 18:17:21 +0000

Concept Overview

Hilda Dajč International Digital Holocaust Memory Award recognizes excellence, ethical integrity, and innovation in the digital memorialization of the Holocaust.

The award honors Hilda Dajč, a Jewish architecture student and volunteer nurse murdered in 1942 at the Judenlager Semlin (Staro Sajmište) in Belgrade, Serbia. Hilda wrote four letters from the camp. Her letters are among the most moving Holocaust testimonies.

Origins: the National Award in Serbia

Established in Serbia in 2022, the “Remembering Hilda Dajč” Award is an independent civil society initiative that marked the 80th anniversary of the murder of the final group of Jewish prisoners at Judenlager Semlin. Honoring both youth engagement and outstanding professional contributions to Holocaust remembrance, the annual award has quickly gained prestige among memory activists and professionals—despite being largely ignored by Serbian authorities.

The award links personal testimonies, authentic Holocaust sites, and cutting-edge digital technologies and pedagogical approaches, fostering innovative memorial practices and experiences.

Building on this national success, the initiative is now expanding into an international award to promote innovative digital memorialization and shared historical responsibility across borders.

Vision & Mission

Hilda Dajč International Digital Holocaust Memory Award will serve as an international hub where memory professionals, technology innovators, survivors, their descendants, and young people will propose new benchmarks for excellence in digital Holocaust remembrance.

Its mission is fourfold:

ELEVATE RELEVANCE:

Ensure Holocaust memory remains relevant and vital for younger generations.

DRIVE INNOVATION:

Recognize and honor individuals and institutions that use digital tools to create meaningful, critical, and engaging memory projects.

ESTABLISH GLOBAL STANDARDS:

Set ethical, pedagogical, and museological benchmarks for digital Holocaust remembrance.

FOSTER SHARED RESPONSIBILITY:

Build an international network dedicated to identifying and countering Holocaust distortion, denial, and antisemitism in the digital sphere.

Core Evaluation Criteria

The award prioritizes projects that demonstrate the highest quality and a commitment to:

TECHNOLOGICAL SOPHISTICATION & CREATIVITY

Utilize digital tools to rethink traditional memorialization formats. Explore how digital media can evolve the learning experience.

PEDAGOGICAL IMPACT & YOUTH AGENCY

Promote initiatives that foster historical knowledge and empower young people to develop critical thinking skills and defend democratic values.

COLLABORATIVE ECOSYSTEMS & DATA CONNECTIVITY

Recognize projects that enable seamless international exchange of records, practices, and experiences, uniting authentic sites, institutions, collections, and communities through innovative digital technologies. Prioritize efforts that make archival records and knowledge widely accessible and interoperable across borders, fostering a global Holocaust memorialization.

AMPLIFYING MARGINALIZED NARRATIVES

Bring forgotten or overlooked victims, sites, and hidden histories into the global spotlight.

A Transnational Legacy

The Hilda Dajč International Digital Holocaust Memory Award honors exceptional initiatives and projects worldwide. Its selection criteria are grounded in rigorous professional standards and best practices, such as those set by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

The award’s global reach is further reflected in its diverse steering board composed of renowned experts and leading institutions, and in its strong international collaborations.

Partners & Governance

The Hilda Dajč International Digital Holocaust Memory Award was established through a strategic partnership between the initiative’s visionary founder and its primary academic host:

FOUNDER & INITIATOR:

Terraforming

(Novi Sad, Serbia)

Leading Serbian organization dedicated to advancing remembrance culture, pioneering innovative education about the Holocaust and genocide of the Roma, and countering antisemitism, antigypsyism, xenophobia, and historical distortion. Terraforming is based in Novi Sad.

INSTITUTIONAL HOST:

Landecker Digital Memory Lab

(Brighton, UK)

A premier interdisciplinary hub for worldwide digital initiatives that educate about or commemorate the Holocaust, ensuring a sustainable future for Holocaust memory in the digital age. Landecker Digital Memory Lab is institutionally based at the University of Sussex.

International Steering Board

The strategic direction, ethical standards, and selection processes of the award are guided by a Steering Board. Alongside representatives from Terraforming and the Landecker Digital Memory Lab, the Board is comprised of experts from world-renowned institutions in the fields of Holocaust memory, museology, archiving, technology, and education:

Anat Bratman Elhalel, Director of Archives The Ghetto Fighters’ House Museum (Beit Lohamei HaGeta’ot), Israel
Yaron Tzur, Pedagogic Director The Ghetto Fighters’ House Museum (Beit Lohamei HaGeta’ot), Israel
Dr Ljiljana Radonić, Associate Director Institute of Cultural Studies (IKW) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austria
Stephen Naron, Director The Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies, USA
Pavel Kats, Director The Jewish Heritage Network JHN / European Memory Data Space EMDS, The Netherlands
Hannah Marazzi, Executive Director Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre VHEC, Canada
Dr Anne Lammers, Research & Projects iRights Lab, Germany
Asja Drača, Executive Director Memorial Center “Staro Sajmište”, Serbia
Dr Henning Wellmann, Head of Education Arolsen Archives, Germany

The Ghetto Fighters’ House Museum (Beit Lohamei HaGeta’ot) is the world’s first Holocaust museum, founded in 1949 by survivors and resistance fighters to serve as a global center for humanistic education, research, and the preservation of the legacy of Jewish resistance.

Institute of Cultural Studies (IKW) is a research institute committed to cross-disciplinary research on socially relevant issues in the humanities, arts and social sciences, with three research groups engaged in Knowledge Production, Memory Culture, and Antisemitism Studies.

The Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies is a pioneer in oral history housed at Yale University, dedicated to recording and preserving more than 4,400 witness-centered video testimonies to provide a permanent record of the Holocaust through the voices of survivors, liberators, and witnesses.

European Memory Data Space EMDS is a leading international initiative to create a shared digital infrastructure for Holocaust-related records, technologies and pedagogical methodologies, by connecting archives, institutions, projects, and memory organizations, supporting education, remembrance, and research in the 21st century.

Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre VHEC is a leading teaching museum and resource center in British Columbia dedicated to Holocaust education, remembrance, and the promotion of human rights and social justice. Founded in 1983 by Holocaust survivors, the center houses Western Canada’s largest Holocaust-related archive and library. In the early 1980s, the VHEC was a global pioneer in systematically recording the testimonies of Holocaust survivors on video.

iRights Lab is an independent think tank that develops strategies and practical solutions to shape a democratic digital society, ensuring that technological innovation aligns with human rights and social responsibility.

Memorial Center “Staro Sajmište” is a newly established national institution, founded in 2022, dedicated to preserving the memory of the victims of the Judenlager and Anhaltelager Semlin. Located on the site of the former Belgrade Fairgrounds, where the young volunteer nurse Hilda Dajč was imprisoned and murdered, the center will serve as a vital site of remembrance, research, and education.

The Arolsen Archives is the world’s most comprehensive archive on victims and survivors of Nazi persecution, that share knowledge and promote active remembrance and democracy.

Commitment to an Inclusive Board

The Steering Board remains open to new institutional and individual members who offer technological, historical, pedagogical, and other relevant expertise, as well as diverse perspectives from geographic regions still unrepresented in the current Board, including South America, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Furthermore, the Board is committed to deepening its historical scope by actively welcoming Roma and Sinti experts and voices from other historically marginalized communities to ensure a truly transnational and inclusive approach to Holocaust memory. At present, the Board comprises members from Austria, Canada, Germany, Israel, the Netherlands, Serbia, the UK, and the US.

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Nevena Bajalica and Miško Stanišić have been removed from the Serbian delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance IHRA. This did not come as a surprise, but it remains deeply troubling, as it raises questions about Serbia’s genuine commitment to IHRA principles.

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The post Hilda Dajč International Digital Holocaust Memory Award first appeared on Terraforming.

Exchange study visit: Canada through the lens of memory culture

Miško Stanišić — Wed, 27 May 2026 20:05:38 +0000

Exchange study visit:

Canada through the lens of memory culture

With the support of the European Network for Combating Antisemitism through Education (ENCATE) and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), Terraforming and the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC) took part in reciprocal study visits in April 2026 in Vancouver and Toronto, Canada, and in Novi Sad and Belgrade, Serbia. The aim of the program was to foster cooperation and strategic partnership, as well as the exchange of knowledge, best practices, and methodologies between Canada and Serbia, including the implementation of the IHRA recommendations on Holocaust education and the genocide of the Roma.

Terraforming in Canada

The seven-day exchange program in Canada included visits to Vancouver, Victoria, and Toronto. The Canadian host of this exchange was the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC), a reputable institution with a rich tradition with which Terraforming maintains an active exchange, led by Executive Director Hannah Marazzi. Representing Terraforming in this exchange were Miško Stanišić and Nevena Bajalica.

Pioneers of Video Testimonies

The Vancouver Holocaust Centre Society was founded back in 1983 by Holocaust survivors in British Columbia, with the goal of creating a permanent institution dedicated to remembrance and education. Even then, as the first institution in the world, they began pioneering work in recording and archiving video testimonies of Holocaust survivors. In 1994, the Center took its final form as the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC), with the mission to engage students, educators, and the broader public in British Columbia and beyond through education and remembrance regarding the history of the Holocaust and its ongoing relevance. The vision of the VHEC is focused on creating a world free of antisemitism, discrimination, and genocide, while promoting social justice and human rights for all.

Today, the Center is located in the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCCGV), where it features an exhibition space, an extensive archival collection, and close cooperation with the Holocaust survivor community. On this foundation, the VHEC builds educational programs that reach thousands of students annually, both within the center’s exhibition and workshop spaces, as well as through active school visits.

Of course, institutions are merely empty shells without a talented and hardworking team. The VHEC boasts an impressive team of brilliant, professional, and motivated people, led by the fantastic Hannah Marazzi, the center’s director. Hannah is also a member of the Canadian delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

A Museum with a Mission to Educate

Quite logically, we began in the education department. Lise Kirchner, the Director of Education, and Ellie Lawson, an educator, presented the museum display and the exhibition “Age of Influence: Youth & Nazi Propaganda” which is currently on display at the VHEC. This compelling exhibition focuses on Nazi propaganda targeted specifically at young people. We discussed pedagogical concepts, experiences, and best practices in working with younger audiences, both in the exhibition space and in schools. It turned out that we are guided by the same or very similar didactic principles and international standards expressed through IHRA recommendations, and that we face similar challenges.

Archivist Ada Alster provided an expert guided tour of the VHEC archives. The VHEC archival material includes items donated by Holocaust survivors who settled in British Columbia, families of victims, and witnesses. The types of materials found in the archive include personal documents, correspondence, school certificates, photographs, memorabilia, newspaper clippings, travel documents, documentation on exhibitions and events, as well as other objects documenting pre-war life, the Holocaust, and the post-Holocaust experiences of survivors, including immigration.

Meetings with leading figures in research, commemoration, and education

Our gracious hosts organized several meetings with prominent researchers, academics, and other relevant stakeholders in the fields of Holocaust memorialization and education, and the fight against antisemitism in British Columbia.

A particular pleasure and great honor was meeting VHEC founder Dr Robert Krell, a world-renowned expert on childhood trauma who was the first to begin recording Holocaust video testimonies. Dr Robert Krell is a distinguished Canadian psychiatrist, Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia, and a Holocaust survivor, whose life has become synonymous with the fight against forgetting and the healing of profound human trauma. Born in the Netherlands, he spent the war years in hiding as a child, and after the war emigrated to Canada and devoted himself to medicine. Over the course of a rich career, he became a pioneer in the study of intergenerational trauma, focusing in particular on children who survived the Holocaust and whose psychological suffering had until then been overlooked. Driven by a mission to preserve historical truth, he founded the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC), through which he initiated the recording of hundreds of testimonies and the education of new generations about the dangers of antisemitism and racism. For his tireless work in the fields of trauma, public memory, and human rights, he has received the highest state honors, including the prestigious Order of Canada. With Dr Krell, we discussed the connections between Canada and Serbia through the experiences of Holocaust survivors. We reflected on Jewish prisoners subjected to forced labor in the Bor mine, and the fact that some of those who survived emigrated to Canada after the war. Dr Krell emphasized the importance of speaking about Jewish heroes as well, such as Rudolf Vrba, whom he knew personally and worked with in Canada. Rudolf Vrba was a Slovak-Jewish biochemist who, as a teenager in 1942, was deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp. He escaped the camp in April 1944, at the height of the Holocaust, and co-authored the Vrba–Wetzler Report, a detailed account of the mass murders taking place in Auschwitz. When the report leaked to Switzerland in June 1944 and then reached London, Washington, and the Vatican, media outlets such as The New York Times and the BBC reported excerpts. The truth about Auschwitz became official and indisputable, directly contributing to the rescue of more than 200,000 Jews from Hungary. We promised Dr Krell that we would find a way to include Rudolf Vrba’s story in our teaching materials as well.

We had an inspiring meeting with Canadian anthropologist Timothy Taylor, a professor at the University of Victoria. Professor Taylor produced the podcast The Hidden Holocaust Papers: Survival, Exile, Return, developed in collaboration with VHEC.

We had an outstanding conversation with Lauren Faulkner Rossi, Professor of History at Simon Fraser University. Specializing in Holocaust studies, religion, and modern Europe, Professor Faulkner Rossi is the author of Wehrmacht Priests, and her work explores memory, trauma, and lived religious experience during the Holocaust.

Elana Wenner, Director of Programs and Development at the Jewish Museum and Archives of BC, guided us through the city’s former Jewish neighborhoods and the vivid story of Jewish immigrants in Vancouver. Canada is built on stories of immigration, and we in Serbia—who have, unfortunately, had considerable experience with refuge and displacement—can recognize many similar challenges, tragicomic details, and also how vital solidarity within the community is in times of crisis.

It was a great pleasure to meet Gina Csanyi-Robah, Director and Co-Founder of the Canadian Romani Alliance, an educator and human rights activist. Gina has been active in the fight for Roma rights since 2004. She has testified before committees of the Canadian Parliament and Senate on immigration policy, spoken at the United Nations, and contributed to national and international efforts to recognize the genocide of the Roma. She is a member of the Canadian delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). We had a warm and candid conversation with Gina about how we can support one another in implementing the IHRA recommendations for teaching and learning about the genocide of the Roma. In cooperation with the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC) and the Canadian Romani Alliance, we will work on adapting Terraforming’s educational graphic novel about the persecution of Roma in Srem and occupied Belgrade, “Iz kasa u galop,” for use in the Canadian context, in Holocaust education and education about the persecution of Roma in Canadian classrooms.

Presentations on Terraforming’s work, the state of memory culture, and the challenges of antisemitism in Serbia

Miško Stanišić delivered a presentation to VHEC staff about Terraforming’s work. Our hosts listened with great interest to Terraforming’s extensive experience in developing diverse teaching methodologies and pedagogical materials—from educational graphic novels to the use of artificial intelligence as an interface for engaging with testimonies.

They were particularly struck by the complexity of memory culture in Serbia, a society with a fragile democratic tradition still dominated by unprocessed traumas from the conflicts of the 1990s, while nationalism and politicization are the main catalysts shaping the presentation and understanding of history. As a result, distortion and misuse of history—including the Holocaust—are frequent both in official and institutional narratives. A lack of courage and political will to address controversial topics such as collaboration, one’s own crimes, manipulation of victim numbers, and blaming others—especially for day-to-day political propaganda—are key features of the vicious Balkan cycle of mutual fueling of nationalism and hatred.

We also spoke about our initiatives to present and implement IHRA standards and recommendations in Serbia, especially the recommendations on teaching and learning about the Holocaust and the genocide of the Roma, and we wish to develop cooperation with VHEC in this area as well. In the discussion that followed, colleagues from VHEC repeatedly emphasized that they were impressed by Terraforming’s commitment and results, especially given that we are a relatively small team operating under complex conditions.

Antisemitism in transition

Miško Stanišić delivered his second presentation at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver JCCGV), an institution of Vancouver’s Jewish community. The Jewish community in Vancouver numbers around 25,000, and around 35,000 in British Columbia, while approximately 400,000 Jews live across Canada, making up about 1% of Canada’s population. Miško’s lecture, titled “Antisemitism in Transition: Perspectives from Serbia and the Post-Conflict Balkans”, drew JCCGV board members, staff, and visitors to the Jewish Community Centre. Miško spoke about recognizing regional variations of contemporary antisemitism, the specific nature of this challenge in Southeast Europe, and why understanding regional specificities of antisemitism is also relevant in Canada. In that context, Serbia—which has undergone a dual transition, from communist to democratic governance and from armed conflict and violence to a post-conflict society—has not fully completed either of these processes.

In his presentation, Miško analyzed specific characteristics of Serbian society in the context of antisemitism, emphasizing that an authoritarian regime, lack of the rule of law, and the absence of media freedoms create an environment in which it is difficult to address hate speech institutionally. At the same time, the authorities use populist nationalism, the spread of fear, and the maintenance of a state of constant social paranoia as key tools—directly facilitating the development of conspiracy theories that are historically deeply connected to antisemitic patterns.

Also characteristic of Serbia is the phenomenon of denying the existence of antisemitism in our society, which is entirely nonsensical in any European context, since antisemitism is deeply woven into the core of European cultural identity. There is no European society—including Serbian society—in which antisemitism does not manifest; the only question is how much, in what ways, and to what extent this hatred is part of the mainstream or remains on the margins. This refusal to speak about antisemitism in Serbia has, on the one hand, led to contemporary incidents being deliberately ignored and minimized, while on the other hand it has meant that sustainable, long-term strategies to counter antisemitism are not being developed.

In Serbia today, antisemitism is growing particularly on the left, but antisemitism driven by nationalism and the ideas of the classic far right is also present. A particular problem is that, as a result of rising institutional pressure on civil society and academia, independent initiatives to map and understand antisemitism are being endangered—initiatives that could otherwise offer evidence-based recommendations to decision-makers. Miško also spoke about the ABC of Antisemitism handbook, the UP2US project, and the motivations that led to the founding of the Centre for Combating Antisemitism and Intolerance in Novi Sad.

After the lecture, there was a Q&A with the audience. Several participants noted that they were particularly struck by how many of the problems they recognized in their own environment as well, demonstrating the extent to which antisemitism is a global phenomenon that manifests in not-so-different ways in places that are geographically very far apart, such as British Columbia on Canada’s Pacific west coast and Serbia in Southeast Europe.

Meeting with members of the VHEC Board and marking Yom HaShoah

Our exceptional hosts also organized meetings with leading figures of the Jewish community and members of the Board of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. Among them were Ezra S. Shanken, Executive Director of The Greater Vancouver Jewish Federation, Jaime Stein, Director at the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies, as well as the wonderful Shoshana Krell-Lewis and Simone Kallner, who promised to visit us in Serbia—we are holding them to it and look forward to it!

The evening of April 14 brought one of the most emotional moments of the entire visit—the commemoration of Yom HaShoah at Temple Sholom synagogue in Vancouver. Several hundred community members attended. The highlight of the evening was the appearance of twelve Holocaust survivors—women and men in advanced age—who, accompanied by their children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren, processed through the synagogue, conveying a powerful message: We survived despite everything! A particularly moving part of the evening was an interview with Malka Pischanitskaya, a survivor whose harrowing life story is captured in her memoirs A Mother to My Mother. Malka was born in Ukraine. When the Nazis occupied her hometown of Romaniv in 1941, she witnessed mass shootings of neighbors and family as a ten-year-old girl, but she and her mother managed to escape death. They spent the following year constantly on the run, hiding in forests, fields, and barns with no means of survival. As her mother was deeply traumatized by the horrors of war, their roles reversed: though still a child, Malka became the protector, leaving her mother hidden while she went alone to nearby villages to secure food. Malka survived despite everything. She emigrated to Canada in 1975 and has lived in Vancouver ever since. She works with the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC) and participates in the Centre’s educational programs. With VHEC’s support, the book “Majka mojoj majci” was also produced, documenting Malka’s experiences and survival during the Holocaust.

Visit to Hillel BC at the University of British Columbia

Miško and Nevena also visited the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the local Hillel centre. Hillel BC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to Jewish students at universities across the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a regional branch of Hillel International, the world’s largest Jewish student organization, present at more than 850 colleges and universities globally. Hillel BC serves as a “home away from home” for students. They provide physical spaces (hubs) on campuses where students can gather, study, or relax. The organization enables students to stay connected to their Jewish identity, for example through shared celebrations of Shabbat and Jewish holidays; free meals and social events for students; or educational programs on Jewish history, culture, and tradition. In light of rising anti-Jewish tensions on university campuses, Hillel BC plays a key role in combating antisemitism on campus and provides legal, psychological, and institutional support to students facing discrimination, working closely with university administrations to ensure a safe environment for all.

Our host was Ohad Gavrieli, Executive Director of Hillel BC. Ohad leads programs for student engagement and Jewish life across British Columbia at the University of British Columbia, University of Victoria, Simon Fraser University, as well as at other colleges and higher-education campuses across British Columbia.

Miško and Nevena also had the opportunity to visit the renowned Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia, which is physically connected to the university campus. Their host there was Zachary Mullen, a member of the education team at the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. Zachary recently graduated in History from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and works at VHEC on educational programs and public engagement initiatives. Through him, we were also able to hear impressions from the perspective of UBC students, as well as about the rich multicultural heritage of this region.

Holocaust Survivors

We were deeply impressed by the active participation of Holocaust survivors in the work of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. We had the honor and pleasure of spending time speaking with Miriam Dattel, who was born Branka Friedman in Zagreb. Following the Nazi occupation of Yugoslavia in 1941, young Branka (Miriam) and her family began a years-long flight from Ustaše and German persecution, moving from Zagreb, through Split, and into Italy. Thanks to luck, false identities, and tips from certain officials, the family managed to survive by hiding in as many as 18 different locations, mostly across northern Italy. They finally found refuge at the Swiss border, where a guard, despite the official entry ban, allowed them to cross and safely await the end of the war. They later emigrated to Canada. Today, Miriam is a wonderful and inspiring person who enthusiastically participates in Holocaust education programs across British Columbia.

Visit to the Parliament of British Columbia

One of the most memorable experiences of the entire visit was the trip to Victoria, specifically the Parliament of British Columbia. Although Vancouver is the largest city and the economic centre of British Columbia, Victoria is the official capital and administrative hub of this Canadian province. It is located at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, situated southwest of the city of Vancouver and separated from it by a body of water, so Miško, Nevena, and Hannah Marazzi arrived in Victoria by seaplane.

The Parliament of British Columbia, housed in a historic building in Victoria, functions as a unicameral legislature in which elected members pass laws and oversee the work of the provincial authorities. The executive branch is the government organized according to the Westminster model, where the premier and their cabinet of ministers manage provincial ministries and implement adopted policies. At the Parliament building, they were warmly welcomed by Nina Krieger, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, a former member of the Canadian IHRA delegation and former Director of VHEC. Nina’s role in government is directly connected to her expertise and many years of work leading the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, where she gained experience in human rights and in combating antisemitism and racism. We spoke with Nina about deepening cooperation between institutions in British Columbia, the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, and Terraforming.

Long-term cooperation established

Throughout our stay in Vancouver, we had intensive, candid, and productive conversations with VHEC Executive Director Hannah Marazzi, occasionally joined by members of her team. This exchange laid strong foundations for future joint projects and long-term cooperation, recognizing the immense value of combining our experience and knowledge in the fields of Holocaust and Roma genocide memorialization and education, as well as the different strengths we each bring: Serbia offers authentic sites of life and persecution, a historical legacy of antifascism, but also a complex relationship with memory culture intertwined with politicization and nationalism; while Canada brings a perspective shaped by its role in the liberation of Europe from Nazism, the reception of Holocaust survivors who emigrated to Canada, a large Jewish community and still a significant number of survivors, as well as the challenges of safeguarding democratic values and curbing antisemitism and racism.

Toronto: The Azrieli Foundation and the Holocaust Museum

The final segment of this study visit took place in Toronto. Miško and Nevena met with Jody Spiegel Fegelman, Director of the Azrieli Holocaust Survivor Memoirs program and a member of the Canadian IHRA delegation. The Azrieli Foundation is Canada’s largest non-corporate public philanthropic foundation. It was founded in 1989 by David J. Azrieli, a successful Canadian-Israeli businessman, architect, and Holocaust survivor, with the aim of supporting education, science, and social inclusion. The Azrieli Foundation is a major philanthropic organization that funds and delivers key programs in Holocaust education, advanced medical research, and social inclusion. Through strategic donations, awards, and scholarships, the Foundation actively supports scientific and academic excellence, healthcare development, and the preservation of historical memory in Canada and Israel.

We spoke with Jody about establishing concrete cooperation on developing a guide for implementing the IHRA recommendations on teaching and learning about the Holocaust, modeled on “First Step.” “First Step” is a guide for teachers of all subjects who plan to teach students aged twelve and older about the Holocaust, developed by the Azrieli Foundation. This handbook offers essential foundational concepts and methodologies, providing useful guidance both for educators encountering this difficult topic for the first time and for experienced teachers who wish to reassess and improve their practice. It is based on the IHRA recommendations on teaching and learning about the Holocaust. Since these recommendations have not been specifically promoted in Serbia by the relevant ministries, it has largely fallen to civil society to do so—something Terraforming has primarily undertaken in recent years. For that reason, supporting tools such as the “First Step” handbook are an extremely welcome form of assistance in this effort. We also proposed creating a “First Step” dedicated to teaching and learning about the genocide of the Roma.

Toronto Holocaust Museum

Our stay in Toronto was further enriched by a visit to the new Toronto Holocaust Museum where Dara Solomon, Executive Director, guided us. We were impressed by an exhibition that, on the one hand, is entirely based on the testimonies of Holocaust survivors who brought their memories, documents, and objects with them when they emigrated to Canada; yet at the same time, each panel includes text that skillfully connects past events with Canadian society today, giving the exhibition a unique dimension of relevance, authenticity, and contemporaneity. Although the exhibition is dedicated to events from the past that took place far from Canada, the way this story is told through the authentic words of Canadians—Holocaust survivors—and how firmly it is anchored in the present through links to current societal challenges, makes visitors feel that this is a highly topical subject, close and grounded in the Canadian experience.

Strengthened friendship, knowledge exchange, and a foundation for long-term cooperation

This deeply inspiring visit is already showing results through the start of concrete cooperation between Terraforming and the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. This includes the development of educational material on the Holocaust through stories about football, aligned with current preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which will be played in part in Vancouver. In this material, Canadian audiences will be introduced to excerpts from Terraforming’s graphic novel about pre-war Novi Sad, the Hungarian occupation, and the Novi Sad Raid, focusing on young footballers from Vojvodina and Maccabi.

In addition, Hannah Marazzi kindly agreed to serve as a member of the International Steering Board of the Hilda Dajč International Digital Holocaust Memory Award.

This is only the beginning!

Thank you very much!

Many thanks to dear Hannah Marazzi—we cannot find enough words to express how wonderful she is! Thank you as well to the VHEC team and all the wonderful people who, with respect and genuine willingness, wanted to listen to us, asked about our experiences with sincere interest, and shared their knowledge and advice with us wholeheartedly.

Once again, we must express our profound gratitude to the European Network for Combating Antisemitism (ENCATE) and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), who made this outstanding exchange program possible. This was one of the most significant professional development experiences of our careers.

The post Exchange study visit: Canada through the lens of memory culture first appeared on Terraforming.

Silencing independent voices – removal from IHRA delegation

Miško Stanišić — Mon, 25 May 2026 08:36:20 +0000

Silencing Independent Voices

Removal of Terraforming from Serbian IHRA Delegation Raises Serious Questions Over Serbia’s Genuine Commitment to IHRA Principles

Statement released on May 25 2026.

Nevena Bajalica and I have been removed from the Serbian delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance IHRA. This did not come as a surprise, but it remains deeply troubling, as it raises questions about Serbia’s genuine commitment to IHRA principles.

Terraforming as Serbia’s Bridge to IHRA Standards

For years, Terraforming has been one of the main, and often the sole link between IHRA and Serbian society. We have been the principal force that worked directly with teachers, archivists, librarians, museum professionals, civil society organizations, local communities, and public institutions to promote and implement IHRA values, tools, and standards in Serbia.

Much of Serbia’s IHRA-related progress in the past decade was driven by our work: the adoption of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism by the Serbian Government; the Serbian translation and promotion of the IHRA Recommendations for Teaching and Learning about the Holocaust; capacity-building trainings for educators and professionals; the ongoing translation of the Serbian version of the IHRA Recommendations on the Persecution and Genocide of the Roma; and our contribution to the legal and institutional framework for the Memorial Center “Staro Sajmište,” to mention some.

Isolation, Pressure, Threats and Obstruction

At the same time, our work takes place in an increasingly hostile environment. As only independent voices within the delegation, we consistently raised concerns about antisemitism, Holocaust distortion, antigypsyism, and the abuse of history for nationalist and populist propaganda. In the past years, this led to increased isolation, intimidation, and even threats from Serbian officials involved in IHRA-related work. We were excluded from internal communication and coordination, and pressured to “tone down” our remarks on domestic antisemitism and historical distortion. Our engagement in IHRA internal projects and processes was not only ignored and boycotted but also actively obstructed by our own delegation.

Our formal removal from the IHRA delegation was carried out without communication, consultation, explanation, or any attempt at handover or knowledge transfer. We learned of it not from Serbian officials, but from the IHRA Permanent Office in Berlin, several weeks later.

Part of a Wider Crackdown on Free Voices

Our exclusion is not simply a matter of “administrative delegation reorganization.” It is happening within a dangerous, wider crackdown on Serbian civil society, free media, academia, educators, cultural professionals, and those who defend democracy and the rule of law. Historical distortion has become a political tool. Opponents are regularly called by officials and in the state-controlled media “Ustaša,” “Nazis,” “foreign agents,” or “paid by Soros.” This is precisely the environment in which Holocaust education, responsible remembrance, and the fight against antisemitism and antigypsyism must remain independent and principled.

A Test of Serbia’s Commitment to IHRA Principles

The question now is not who has been newly included in the Serbian IHRA delegation. The concern is who has been deliberately excluded.

If Terraforming — the most visible and internationally recognized actor in Holocaust education, remembrance, and countering distortion, antisemitism, and antigypsyism in Serbia, awarded the Yehuda Bauer Grant by IHRA, and the only independent expert voice — is removed from the delegation, this raises serious questions about the credibility and direction of Serbia’s engagement with IHRA.

Undeterred: Our Unwavering Commitment

Regardless of our formal status, Terraforming will continue to promote IHRA values and standards in Serbian society. We will continue to support educators and institutions, counter antisemitism and historical distortion, and insist that Serbian decision-makers uphold the international commitments connected to IHRA membership.

We view our removal as yet another act of intimidation. But this also proves that our work is both absolutely necessary and deeply impactful. Rather than discouraging us, this attempt to set us back only inspires us, deepening our determination and renewing our commitment.

We urge our colleagues and friends in the international and Serbian professional memory communities to continue standing with us in strengthening remembrance culture as a shared civilizational responsibility and a cornerstone of our democracies, preserving it from political abuse and distortion, while actively confronting contemporary antisemitism and antigypsyism.

Miško Stanišić, Director

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries, please contact Nemanja Stevanović at nemanja.stevanovic@terraforming.org

If Terraforming — the most visible and internationally recognized actor in Holocaust education, remembrance, and countering distortion, antisemitism, and antigypsyism in Serbia, awarded the Yehuda Bauer Grant by IHRA, and the only independent expert voice — is removed from the delegation, this raises serious questions about the credibility and direction of Serbia’s engagement with IHRA.

The post Silencing independent voices – removal from IHRA delegation first appeared on Terraforming.

A New Era of Digital Remembrance Culture

Nemanja Stevanović — Mon, 18 May 2026 12:49:46 +0000

EMDS Project Presented to Experts in Novi Sad

Within the framework of the European Memory Data Space (EMDS) project, we held an event dedicated to creating a functional, connected, and sustainable digital ecosystem that will ensure the memory of the Holocaust remains alive and accessible in the decades to come.

Vision of a Sustainable Digital Future

On May 7, in Hotel Sheraton in Novi Sad, Terraforming hosted the program before an audience of over 30 prominent experts from ten countries—from Finland to Greece.

The EMDS project, which Terraforming is realizing in close cooperation with the Jewish Heritage Network from Amsterdam and other partners, was presented by Pavel Kats and Miško Stanišić.

The event was an opportunity to more deeply explore the concept through which we work on creating a sustainable digital ecosystem and a new digital culture of exchanging experiences and materials, which encompasses archival material, testimonies, authentic locations and places of life and suffering, digital formats and tools for connecting material, pedagogical methodologies and experiences in practice, connecting them into a new digital culture of remembrance.

A New Philosophy in Digital Memorialization

During an inspired presentation, Pavel Kats presented the vision of EMDS as a space that offers a new philosophy of approach to the digital memorialization of the Holocaust and global cooperation in that field. It was emphasized that sustainability, foresight, and international cooperation are the three pillars on which the future of all digital projects about the Holocaust is based.

New Perspectives in Understanding History

Miško Stanišić spoke about EMDS from the perspective of educators and museum workers, and shared a vision of the future of Holocaust remembrance in which historical material, authentic sites of suffering, museums and memorial centers, testimonies, and educational methodologies and content will be available digitally, opening possibilities to create entirely new teaching materials and exhibitions in which all these elements will merge regardless of geographical distance, thereby opening new perspectives and entirely new fields for a deeper understanding of this history.

About the EMDS

Within the EMDS project, Terraforming hosted events in Amsterdam, Belgrade and now in Novi Sad.

Funded by European Union – Europe for Citizens Programme – European Remembrance (EACEA) .

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The post A New Era of Digital Remembrance Culture first appeared on Terraforming.

Digital Innovation in the Service of Remembrance

Nemanja Stevanović — Wed, 13 May 2026 06:56:56 +0000

International Design Sprint in Novi Sad and Belgrade

The Landecker Digital Memory Lab (University of Sussex, UK) and Terraforming have successfully realized an intensive five-day international Design Sprint.

This gathering in Novi Sad and Belgrade brought together more than 30 experts from ten countries—ranging from the USA and Great Britain to Germany and Finland, as well as countries across the region: Romania, Croatia, Greece, North Macedonia and Serbia—with the goal of offering solutions for the transformation of remembrance culture through digital innovations.

The Landecker Digital Memory Lab is an interdisciplinary hub for worldwide digital initiatives that educate about or commemorate the Holocaust. LDML create in-person and digital opportunities for international, cross-sector dialogue, produce new research and policy guidance, and offer training and consultancy programmes. LDML work with Holocaust memory and education organisations, academics, tech and creative professionals, funders and policymakers to solve the pressing issues concerning digital interventions in this field.

Facing Reality: Culture and “Non-Culture” of Remembrance in Serbia as a Source of Inspiration

Participants in the program had a unique opportunity to face authentic sites in Novi Sad, South Bačka, and Belgrade where history still “breathes,” where it is slowly fading into oblivion, where it has been hijacked and misused, and where it is preserved with respect and piety toward the victims. Miško Stanišić, Director of Terraforming, led the group through marked and unmarked sites of suffering related to the Novi Sad Raid and the deportation of Bačka Jews, where the participants had the chance to personally form a real picture of contemporary remembrance culture in Serbia.

The journey began on the first day with a visit to various locations in Novi Sad, ranging from Terraforming’s panels on deportation in front of the Novi Sad Synagogue to the memorial at the popular “Štrand” beach—surrounded by citizens lying on the grass and sunbathing—to the monument “Family” on the Quay of the Raid Victims, where Terraforming’s exhibition had been attacked and damaged during the “Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture” manifestation.

Killing site and a golf club

On the second day, the participants were taken by bus to visit sites that seemed truly surreal. From the neglected “Water Lily” monument near Žabalj and the imposing “Black Bridge”—which is now surrounded by a golf club, while the monument itself sits behind trash cans and a restaurant’s brick grill—to the monument on the Tisa at the “third ramp” near Čurug, participants witnessed attempts to keep the victims from being forgotten, alongside incomprehensible neglect and the inadequate use of authentic killing sites. Finding the Museum of the Victims of the Raid in Čurug closed during its official hours of operation, served as a stark reminder of the barriers to contemporary remembrance, ranging from a lack of funding to a total absence of political will. It was precisely these contrasts and contradictions that served as inspiration for discussions and work on new ideas.

From Communist to Nationalist Narratives: A State of Limbo

On the third day, the group visited the remnants of an old exhibition about World War II at the Museum of Vojvodina, guided by the excellent Vojislav Martinov. The exhibition was originally created in the 1970s as part of the collection of the Museum of the Socialist Revolution, but was significantly altered in the 1990s as the narrative was adapted to a new, national and nationalist one; following various complications and an unresolved situation regarding the museum space itself, it remained in the 2000s in a sort of liminal space between the old narrative of the anti-fascist past and the unreadiness of policymakers to clearly define a new narrative for this history. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Museum of Vojvodina for their cooperation and hospitality.

A Culture of Remembrance Under Pressure

These tours left a deep impression on the participants, illustrating a stark divide. They witnessed how nationalism and corruption—the primary drivers of official policy in Serbia—clash fundamentally with modern memorialization standards promoted by the IHRA. Simultaneously, participants saw firsthand the systemic pressures and obstacles faced by the activists and professionals fighting to preserve a culture of remembrance within contemporary Serbian society.

Digital Solutions for New Generations

Drawing inspiration from these observed problems, the focus of the work was on developing new methodologies that would make the Holocaust memory relevant and accessible to younger generations.

European Memory Data Space

One of the central parts of the program was dedicated to the European Memory Data Space (EMDS) project, which Terraforming is implementing in partnership with the Jewish Heritage Network (JHN) from Amsterdam, presented to us by the brilliant Pavel Kats, Director of JHN.

Participants worked on concepts that utilize new technologies to preserve sites of memory in a dignified and educationally meaningful way, even where the physical space is endangered or degraded, serving as a foundation for creating digital tools that are simultaneously historically grounded and technologically advanced.

Connecting Novi Sad and Belgrade

After four intensive working days in Novi Sad, the program moved to Belgrade, where the ceremony for the presentation of the “Remembering Hilda Dajč” award was held at the University Library “Svetozar Marković” of the University of Belgrade.

On the final day, participants pitched their innovations to the representatives of the Claims Conference. Moving beyond the theoretical, these project-ready solutions were designed to equip young people with the tools to recognize historical manipulation and champion democratic values.

Putting Serbia on the map

Through this international gathering, Terraforming has contributed to solidify Serbia’s position on the map of contemporary standards for digital remembrance culture.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the Landecker Digital Memory Lab for leading this remarkable multi-year project—a landmark initiative in exploring and defining the landscape of digital Holocaust remembrance. We are honored to have partnered with the Lab and are grateful for the trust placed in Terraforming to contribute our expertise to such a vital global endeavor.

Our path is clear: an honest and courageous confrontation with the past, the recognition of our own responsibility in the present, and the use of digital innovation as an educational tool and a means for protecting human dignity and the rule of law.

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Participation in the Coalition to Counter Online Antisemitism Policy Forum

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The post Digital Innovation in the Service of Remembrance first appeared on Terraforming.

The “Remembering Hilda Dajč” Awards 2026

Nemanja Stevanović — Fri, 08 May 2026 10:16:14 +0000

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Winners Announced and an International Award Launched

Remembering Hilda Dajč Award 2026

The 5th Annual “Remembering Hilda Dajč” Awards

The fifth annual Remembering Hilda Dajč Award ceremony was held on May 7, 2026, at the University of Belgrade’s “Svetozar Marković” University Library.

The event served as a significant gathering for memory professionals, civil society leaders, and representatives from the Jewish and Roma communities. The ceremony was further distinguished by the presence of international guests and diplomats from the embassies of the United Kingdom, Israel, and Germany, alongside students and engaged citizens.

Honoring Excellence and Civic Duty

Continuing the tradition of excellence, awards were conferred in two primary categories:

The Award for Outstanding Contribution to Remembrance Culture, and
The Youth Award for Civic Responsibility and Social Awareness

True to the initiative’s mission to empower the next generation, Belgrade’s gymnasium students once again led the selection for the ‘Youth Voice’ recognition. This special honor highlights the nominee whose work spoke most directly to the values and perspectives of today’s 15-18 year olds.

A New International Chapter

This year marked a pivotal turning point for the initiative. We are proud to announce the international expansion of the Remembering Hilda Dajč Award—a strategic evolution designed to broaden our impact. By introducing The Hilda Dajč International Digital Holocaust Memory Award, we are elevating our mission of remembrance and civic responsibility to a global stage.

Winners of the 2026 “Remembering Hilda Dajč” Award

Outstanding Contribution to Remembrance Culture 2026

European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture ERIAC Serbia

for the exhibition “Combing Through Time: Unraveling the Hidden Histories of the Roma Genocide”. The exhibition illuminates the often-overlooked narratives of the Roma genocide during World War II and honors the resilience of the Roma community in Serbia and the region. It served as an introduction to a training program focused on the role of media professionals in combating discrimination and antigypsyism.

The Youth Award for Civic Responsibility and Social Awareness 2026

Union of High School Students of Serbia (UNSS)

for the digital tool “The Traffic Light of School Crisis”. In recent year, schools in Serbia have faced serious institutional pressure: frequent staff removals, intimidation of students and parents, and a crackdown on free expression. In response, the UNSS developed a tool to systematically monitor and report on violations of rights and freedoms in secondary schools throughout the country.

The Jury 2026

Following tradition, this year’s jury was composed of representatives from the previous year’s winners, specially invited experts, and a member of the Award’s Managing Board.

The jury featured 2025 winners Stefan Slavić (architect) and the author duo Mirjana Belić Koročkin Davidović and Radivoje Davidović. They were joined by Marija Vasić, a sociology teacher and 2024 winner, who participated this year after being unable to join the previous cycle. The guest jurors included dramaturg Jelena Mijović and Filip Ejdus, a professor at the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Political Sciences. Nenad Lajbenšperger represented the Award’s Managing Board.

The Youth Voice 2026

Following an online vote, a majority of Belgrade’s gymnasium students chose to award the 2026 ‘Youth Voice’ recognition to the Union of High School Students of Serbia (UNSS) for their digital tool, “The Traffic Light of School Crisis”.

Other nominees 2026

Biljana Marcojević (Belgrade), curator of the Museum of Genocide Victims – for the exhibition “War Heroines”.
Nominated for the “Remembering Hilda Dajč” Award for the Outstanding contribution to the culture of remembrance.

Saša Rakezić (Aleksandar Zograf), strip author – for the graphic novel “Letters of Hilda Dajč”.
Nominated for the “Remembering Hilda Dajč” Award for the Outstanding contribution to the culture of remembrance.

Radovan Sremac (Šid), curator of the Museum of Naïve Art “Ilijanum” – for the book “Rahela” about Rahela Ferari.
Nominated for the “Remembering Hilda Dajč” Award for the Outstanding contribution to the culture of remembrance.

Center for Girls (Niš) – for the book “How to Make Learning Philosophy Fair? Principles of a Feminist-Reconstructed Teaching of Philosophy”.
Nominated for the “Remembering Hilda Dajč” Youth Award for demonstrated civic responsibility and social awareness.

The International Hilda Dajč Digital Holocaust Memory Award

A major international expansion was unveiled at this year’s ceremony. Terraforming and the Landecker Digital Memory Lab at the University of Sussex, have partnered with leading Holocaust memorialization institutions across Germany, Austria, Israel, the USA, Canada, and Serbia to launch the first-ever international award dedicated to digital Holocaust remembrance.

The Hilda Dajč International Award for Digital Holocaust Memorialization will serve as a global benchmark where remembrance experts, tech innovators, survivors, and youth collaborate to set new standards for excellence. The award focuses on utilizing digital tools to redefine traditional formats, fostering historical literacy, and empowering the next generation with the critical thinking skills necessary to defend democratic values. By bringing neglected victims and hidden histories to the forefront of global discourse, the award also provides a vital platform to share the specific history of the Holocaust in Serbia and the region with the world.

The Hilda Dajč International Award for Digital Holocaust Memorialization will serve as a global benchmark where remembrance experts, tech innovators, survivors, and youth collaborate to set new standards for excellence

Miško Stanišić, director of the Terraforming organization, stated:

“Since 2022, when the ‘Remembering Hilda Dajč’ award was established, we have promoted valuable organizations, institutions, and individuals who have made a significant contribution in the field of youth activism and the improvement of the culture of Holocaust remembrance in Serbia. By expanding this mission to an international level with the Landecker Digital Memory Lab, we are beginning a pioneering activity of identifying quality standards and norms in global digital Holocaust memorialization. By establishing this award, we will empower new generations not only to use technology for remembrance but also to protect fundamental democratic values. By promoting the history of the Holocaust in Serbia to a global audience, we want to familiarize the international community with our historical experiences, but also to contribute to nurturing a more honest and courageous culture of remembrance in our country that will follow the standards of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).”

Prof. Dr. Victoria Grace Richardson-Walden, Director of the Landecker Digital Memory Lab, added:

“We are honored to act as the institutional host of this award. The Holocaust in the former Yugoslavia is still very little recognized and understood in international public discourse. We hope that this award, which originates from Serbia in Remembrance a victim murdered in the camp at Staro Sajmište in Belgrade, will help make this history more visible and central in the global commemoration of this past, while recognizing the truly global dimension of digital Holocaust remembrance practice.”

HE Mr. Edward Ferguson, Ambassador of the United Kingdom, said:

“I’m pleased to hear about the introduction of the new digital award, in partnership with the University of Sussex. It is so important that we keep adapting to the new and fast-changing realities of how information is shared between people and communities, especially at a time when the digital space is increasingly weaponised for purposes of Holocaust denial and distortion.

Now more than ever, it is our duty to do everything we can to remember innocent victims such as Hilda and to keep their testimony alive for future generations. Because it is ever clearer that the memory of the Holocaust is at real risk amidst rising antisemitism and the onslaught of online misinformation and disinformation.”

Andrijana Starčević, a student from Belgrade’s 14th Gymnasium, spoke on behalf of the students whose votes determined the recipient of the 2026 ‘Youth Voice’ recognition.

Marija Vasić, a sociology teacher from Novi Sad, had the honor of announcing the recipient of the 2026 ‘Remembering Hilda Dajč’ Award for Outstanding Contribution to Remembrance Culture.

Nenad Lajbenšperger introduced the nominees on behalf of the Remembering Hilda Dajč Award Steering Board.

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The post The “Remembering Hilda Dajč” Awards 2026 first appeared on Terraforming.

Welcome to the Remembering Hilda Dajč 2026 Awards Ceremony

Nemanja Stevanović — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 06:20:42 +0000

Welcome to the 5th annual Remembering Hilda Dajč 2026 Awards ceremony

Please join us for the 5th annual Remembering Hilda Dajč 2026 Awards Ceremony.
It will take place on Thursday, May 7, from 18:00-19:00 CET, at the University Library “Svetozar Marković” in Belgrade. (Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 71)

This year, we are hosting a streamlined 60-minute ceremony dedicated entirely to our nominees and their contributions. By keeping introductory remarks to a minimum, we’re prioritizing the stories and work that define this award.

Jevrejski istorijski muzej

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Nominees in the category of Outstanding Contribution to the Culture of Remembrance:

European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture ERIAC Serbia (Belgrade),
for the exhibition “Combing Through Time: Unraveling the Hidden Histories of the Genocide against the Roma”

Biljana Marcojević (Belgrade), curator at the Museum of Genocide Victims,
for the exhibition “War Heroines”

Radovan Sremac (Šid), curator at the Museum of Naive Art “Ilijanum”,
for the book about Rahela Ferrari “Rahela”

Saša Rakezić (Aleksandar Zograf), graphic novel author,
for the graphic novel “Hilda Dajč’s Letters”

Nominees for the Youth Award for Civic Responsibility and Social Awareness:

UNSS – Union of High School Students of Serbia,
for the “The School Crisis Traffic Light” project

Girl’s Center (Niš)
for the book “How to Make Learning Philosophy Fair? Principles of Feminist-Reconstructed Philosophy Teaching”

Jury

Last year’s award recipients: the architect Stefan Slavić, the authors Mirjana Belić Koročkin Davidović and Radivoje Davidović, and the Students of the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade.
Guest jury members: Jelena Mijović, dramaturgist, and Filip Ejdus, Professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Belgrade.
Also serving on the jury is Marija Vasić, Professor of Sociology at the “Jovan Jovanović Zmaj” Grammar School in Novi Sad; as a 2024 laureate, she joins this year’s panel after being unable to participate last year.
Representing the Award’s Board of Directors is Nenad Lajbenšperger, a historian at the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of the Republic of Serbia.

The International Hilda Dajč Digital Holocaust Memory Award

We are particularly pleased to announce a significant new development! In collaboration with the Landecker Digital Memory Lab (LDML) at the University of Sussex (UK), alongside several leading international institutions, we are establishing The International Hilda Dajč Digital Holocaust Memory Award. Starting in 2027, this award will be adjudicated by an international jury.

Joining us for the ceremony will be Professor Victoria Walden, Director of the LDML, as well as participants of the LDML Design Sprint organized by the Landecker Digital Memory Lab, in partnership with Terraforming.

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The post Welcome to the Remembering Hilda Dajč 2026 Awards Ceremony first appeared on Terraforming.

Participation in the Coalition to Counter Online Antisemitism Policy Forum

Nemanja Stevanović — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 13:18:31 +0000

Confronting Online Antisemitism – From Policy to Practice, Berlin, March 16–18, 2026

ABC of Antisemitism Online Course

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About the event

The event brought together policymakers, researchers, civil society actors, and practitioners to address current challenges in combating online antisemitism, with a strong focus on translating policy into practice. Participants included representatives from the European Commission, the World Jewish Congress, the Antisemitism Policy Trust, the EXPO Foundation, ENMA, the Community Security Trust, and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, among others.

Hosted by the CCOA by ISD Germany, the event brought together policymakers, researchers, civil society actors, and practitioners to address current challenges in combating online antisemitism, with a strong focus on translating policy into practice. Participants included representatives from the European Commission, the World Jewish Congress, the Antisemitism Policy Trust, the EXPO Foundation, ENMA, the Community Security Trust, and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, among others.

About the program

The program featured panels, keynotes, and thematic sessions on digital regulation, AI, counter-narratives, and education. Key discussions addressed the implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA), ethical challenges in AI-driven moderation, and strengthening digital resilience through education and community engagement.

Terraforming at the Conference

During the session “Meeting the Multipliers and Micrograntees,” Terraforming presented its project “ABC on Antisemitism.” Developed in response to the rise in antisemitism in Serbia and globally, the ABC is a clear and accessible resource, online and in print, explaining key concepts, misconceptions, and manifestations of antisemitism. It is designed for media professionals, educators, memory workers, policymakers, and the wider public, and represents the first resource of its kind in Serbia and the Western Balkans. Right now, we are working to expand ABC into a structured online course, aiming to strengthen the region’s capacity to recognize and counter antisemitism and disinformation.

The forum provided valuable opportunities to exchange ideas. We are excited to explore new possibilities for collaborations, including with the European Observatory of Online Hate, Textgain, and TolerEd.

Jovana Savić is also participating in the CCOA Multipliers Training, further strengthening Terraforming’s capacity to disseminate knowledge and expand the reach of its educational work.

In the future

Following a productive exchange with the Director of the Landecker Digital Memory Lab, we can hint at upcoming very exciting news related to the “Remembering Hilda Dajč Award”—more soon.

The forum was an important platform for Terraforming to present its achievements, forge partnerships, and actively shape international strategies to counter online antisemitism.

About the project

After publishing ABC on Antisemitism, a pioneering resource that explains key concepts and misconceptions surrounding antisemitism, Terraforming—supported by the CCOA Microgrant Programme—is developing an online training course paired with a social media campaign to be implemented in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and North Macedonia.

Terraforming created an online resource, ABC on Antisemitism, offering 26 concise entries that explain the most essential terms, phenomena, questions, and misconceptions related to antisemitism.

The primary target audiences include media professionals, educators (in schools, museums, and civil society), memory workers, cultural producers, decision- and policy makers, as well as anyone interested in contributing to a more democratic and tolerant society.

ABC on Antisemitism serves as the first reference source of its kind in Serbia and across the Western Balkans and former Yugoslavia.

Terraforming developed this resource as an urgent response to the rise in antisemitic incidents in Serbia and internationally following October 7.

ABC on Antisemitism was first produced as an online resource and published on the Center for Combating Antisemitism and Intolerance website. This fall, it was launched as a printed handbook. It is available in the Serbian language.

With support from the CCOA Microgrant Programme, Terraforming plans to further develop this material into an online training course focused on combating online and offline antisemitism and disinformation.

We envision its implementation in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and North Macedonia.

The initiative will combine web-based learning with a social media campaign.

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue is a political advocacy organization with offices in London, Berlin, Amman, and Washington DC, and regional Strong Cities Network Hubs serving East & Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Western Balkans. Founded in 2006, ISD is now the leading global ‘think and do’ tank dedicated to understanding and innovating real-world responses to the rising tide of polarisation, hate, and extremism of all forms. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) is dedicated to safeguarding democracy and human rights by reversing the rising global tide of polarisation, extremism, and authoritarianism.

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The post Participation in the Coalition to Counter Online Antisemitism Policy Forum first appeared on Terraforming.

Who Shapes Holocaust Remembrance — and Who Carries Responsibility?

Nemanja Stevanović — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 12:18:22 +0000

Who Shapes Holocaust Remembrance — and Who Carries Responsibility?

This question stood at the center of a two-day study visit in Stockholm within the project Inclusive Remembrance – Holocaust Education and Minority Voices for Democratic Competencies, developed by Terraforming and financed by the Swedish Institute.

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Exchange visit to Stockholm

From Serbia to Sweden

Study visit to Stockholm marked the second gathering in the project framework, following the initial meeting in Belgrade, which focused on the persecution and genocide of the Roma.

Representatives of Terraforming and the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) met with institutional partners and civil society actors to examine how Holocaust remembrance is shaped, who participates in defining it, and how democratic responsibility is embedded in memory work.

From Belgrade to Stockholm: Continuing the Dialogue

The delegation included Terraforming co-founders Miško Stanišić and Nevena Bajalica, together with Communication Manager Nemanja Stevanović. Nadja Greku, Programme Manager at ERIAC, also took part.

In Stockholm, meetings were hosted by the Swedish Holocaust Museum and the Living History Forum. From the Swedish Holocaust Museum, the team was welcomed by Sara Törneman and Dan Hultqvist. At the Living History Forum, discussions included Majlis Nilsson, Madelene Persson, Mia Taikon, Anna Edman Bastos, and Konstantinos Gountas.

Exchanges also extended to civil society. Jacob Rothschild represented JUS – Judiska Ungdomsförbundet i Sverige, while Abedin Denaj and Valeria Redjepagic joined from Gävleborgs Romska Internationella Förening (GRIF).

The visit brought together memory professionals, youth representatives, and civil society actors committed to strengthening inclusive Holocaust remembrance in Europe.

Institutional Responsibility and Narrative Choices

The first day, hosted by the Swedish Holocaust Museum, focused on institutional approaches to remembrance. Discussions addressed narrative framing, curatorial responsibility, and educational outreach. Museums do not merely preserve artifacts; they actively shape public understanding.

Participants reflected on how institutions can maintain historical rigor while creating space for underrepresented voices, particularly Roma experiences of genocide, which are often marginalized in mainstream narratives. The exchange created room for critical reflection on gaps in representation and the importance of cross-border cooperation.

Democratic Competencies and Civic Education

The second day, hosted by the Living History Forum, expanded the discussion toward democratic resilience. Participants visited two exhibitions and explored the Forum’s broader mandate, which combines historical research, exhibitions, and civic education.

The Forum’s work connects Holocaust remembrance with human rights education and democratic values. The exhibitions demonstrated how historical narratives can engage diverse audiences, especially young people. In this framework, remembrance becomes more than commemoration; it becomes a practice that strengthens democratic culture and critical thinking.

Minority Voices and Youth Engagement

At the core of the project lies a clear position: inclusive memory culture is not symbolic participation. It requires shared ownership from the very beginning — over process, content, context, and realization.

Contemporary Jewish and Roma communities, particularly young people, must work as equal partners with institutions. They contribute to defining priorities, shaping narratives, and designing educational approaches. This model safeguards survivor testimony and second-generation narratives while ensuring that a new generation assumes active responsibility for carrying memory forward.

The contributions of JUS and GRIF offered practical examples of youth agency and community-centered remembrance. Their experiences showed that memory is not confined to institutions. It is carried through families, local initiatives, and youth organizations. When young people articulate their own narratives, remembrance becomes a living and socially grounded practice.

Resisting Distortion, Strengthening Democratic Culture

The project addresses contemporary challenges, including Holocaust distortion and the rise of antisemitism and antigypsyism. Historical falsification is closely connected to broader attacks on democratic values. Inclusive remembrance therefore contributes to resilience against extremist narratives and strengthens civic responsibility.

The next phase of the project will focus on developing practical guidelines for inclusive remembrance, aimed at educators and institutions responsible for commemorative and educational activities. The goal is to translate dialogue into concrete tools applicable across national contexts.

Terraforming and ERIAC expressed their gratitude to their Swedish partners — the Swedish Holocaust Museum, the Living History Forum, JUS, GRIF, and the Swedish Institute — as well as to ERIAC Serbia for its strong collaboration.

By connecting institutions and minority voices, the project advances a memory culture that is responsible, participatory, and forward-looking — one in which shaping remembrance and carrying responsibility are inseparable.

About the project

The project “Inclusive Remembrance – Holocaust Education and Minority Voices for Democratic Competencies” aims to explore the ways to support a more inclusive memory culture by developing pedagogical approaches and practical guidelines for involving local Jewish, Roma, and other communities whose voices are not adequately represented in education and official commemoration of the Holocaust, Samudaripen, and other crimes committed by the Nazis and their collaborators. Through the engagement of Jewish and Roma youth, media professionals, memory professionals (educational departments of memorials and museums), and decision-makers, by creating space for minority voices – the local Jewish and Roma communities whose narratives and personal experiences are underrepresented in the mainstream memory, the project will contribute to strengthening the Holocaust remembrance culture, inclusive memorialization, and addressing Holocaust distortion and its correlation with contemporary antisemitism and antigypsyism, all with the aim to promote democracy and critical thinking and counter nationalism and anti-EU propaganda.

Financed by Swedish Institute

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EMDS event – Holocaust Remembrance in Czechia

2025-11-05

Miško Stanišić participated as a keynote speaker in the event “Stolpersteine and Data: Holocaust Remembrance in Czechia” organized by Post Bellum, within the European Memory Data Space (EMDS) – Blueprint project.