In My Pocket Project – an autobiographical picture story and related art workshop about the Kindertransport
Introduces a powerful family story to 9 to 11 year olds
Dorrith Sim was born Jewish, went on the Kindertransport in July 1939, and was fostered by non-Jewish people in Scotland.
Her parents were murdered in Auschwitz. She commemorated each year with a yahrzeit candle.
Most importantly, Dorrith wrote a children’s book, age appropriate for 9 to 11 year olds, to tell her true story, explaining how she went from the discrimination as a Jew in Germany to the kindness of people in Scotland. Dorrith’s family story speaks powerfully to all young children today.
Dorrith’s children in Scotland, the Scottish Jewish Archives, Gathering Voices in Glasgow, Points of Arrival at the University of Edinburgh, the Stadmuseum in Hofgeismar, the German Embassy in Canberra and the Hon German Consul in Perth, all have freely provided the resources to the WE ARE HERE! Foundation, to make this project available globally.
Starting this week, the WE ARE HERE! Foundation’s CEO, Eli Rabinowitz, is travelling to Germany, Lithuania, Israel, Scotland and England to further develop these resources. Eli will be presenting at the IAJGS Conference in London at the end of July.
Schools, public libraries and museums are adopting the project, a true life story powerfully introducing the subject of family history to primary school students.
Carmel Primary School in Perth Australia together with the WE ARE HERE! Foundation recently ran the first ever incursion of the project.
The German Embassy in Canberra reports:
Permission to use these photos have been obtained.
The project consists of a book reading, a Q & A session, and an associated art workshop with the students.
Each student gets to take home a free mini pocket book of Dorrith’s true story and their painted artwork.
In addition, the WE ARE HERE! Foundation prints A4 books for school libraries.
The project is also being run in public libraries in Perth and Mandurah as well as the main WA Boola Bardip Museum in Perth.
All five Sydney Jewish Day primary schools are running the project in 2023, as well as non-Jewish schools such as the Montessori School in Perth.
The project has now expanded into South Africa where Herzlia and Weizmann primary schools in Cape Town will run the project this year – the first collaboration with schools outside Australia!
For more details:
Eli Rabinowitz
IAJGS Board Director
Examples of pockets the children draw together with their “take aways” from the project.
