Survivor speakers

Listening to a survivor of the Holocaust, Nazi persecution or subsequent genocide share their testimony is a hugely powerful experience, and participants at HMD events are likely to have a profound reaction to hearing it.

Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) does not arrange for speakers to attend local Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) activities, but we do have a list of organisations that might be able to help. Get in touch with the organisations below if you would like to invite a survivor to your activity or commemoration.

With thousands of activities taking place for HMD each year, it is impossible for every event to invite a survivor to share their experiences in person. To include survivor experiences in your activity, you could consider reading a testimony, playing a podcast or showing a film of a survivor speaking. You can use all HMDT resources without permission, but you must seek authority to show other films or play music.

If you are fortunate enough that a survivor is able to speak at your activity, in person or virtually, please keep the following in mind:

Speaking about horrific and painful experiences is traumatic and difficult for most survivors – always be respectful and supportive
Make sure that the survivor is comfortable using the video conferencing software you plan on hosting the event with, and that they know the event will be online. You will also need to inform them of the joining details for the event, including passwords
Talk to the survivor speaker in advance about the format of the event and what you would like them to do. Bear in mind that many survivors are used to telling their story in great detail, from beginning to end. Agree in advance how long their speech at your event will be
If your event will feature a Q&A, ensure the questions are submitted to a moderator first before you ask the survivor the question. This is important to filter out any inappropriate or offensive questions
Make sure your audience is of an appropriate age. Some survivors are not prepared to tell their life story to young children and it might not always be appropriate for your audience
Explain to the survivor the programme for the rest of your event, and check they are happy to participate alongside any other speakers, performers and activities
Ensure your audience is fully prepared to listen to the survivor tell their story. It is crucial that they listen attentively and respectfully. For virtual events, you should also instruct participants to mute their microphones to avoid disturbance and interruption.
Unfortunately some online events have been targeted by people wishing to cause disruption or offence. Although this is a rare occurrence, we recommend reading the Community Security Trust’s Guidance for secure livestreaming, particularly if your event is public. Use passwords and consider registering attendees in advance to make your event more secure.

The following organisations may be able to help you invite a survivor to speak at your HMD activity:

45 Aid Society – Holocaust Survivors and second generation speakers

E-mail: [email protected]

Aegis Trust

E-mail: aegistrust.org