When the Shoah Memorial in Milan opened, on January 27, 2012, \u201cone of the goals was to get 100,000 students\u2019 visits,\u201d recalls the President of the Shoah Memorial Foundation Roberto Jarach. Eleven years later, he can \u201cproudly say \u201cthat those visits have been over 300,000.\u201d Moreover, he adds, \u201ca sold relationship with schools has developed through the years. Teachers, principals and historian have come to recognize the Memorial\u2019s educational value and insert it steadily in their learning paths. This school year, for the third time, we expect to exceed 62,000 students\u2019 visits.\u201d
\nThe Shoah Memorial is set in the underground area of Milan\u2019s Central Railway Station. From here, during the Nazi-fascist persecutions, hundreds of Jews were deported to Auschwitz. With them was Holocaust survivor and Life Senator Liliana Segre, along with her father Alberto. She was among the few to survive that horror, and she is one of the reasons why the Memorial exists. \u201cIt is excellent news that many students visit it,\u201d she commented. \u201cThis way, the inscription \u2018Indifference\u2019 that I strongly wanted at the entry is scratched away a little every day, although I do not believe is going to be canceled if ignorance, hatred, and prejudice remain strong.\u201d Segre said that visiting, locations in our cities \u201cwhich are physical testimonies of Nazi-fascist and antisemitic hatred is a foundational step: we must proceed on this path, headed to the roots of hatred\u2019s language and thoughts.\u201d
\nSegre highlighted the importance to widen the participation beyond students. \u201cThere is still much to do to appeal to individual visits. Unfortunately, we have seen of decrease in this sector, maybe due to the geopolitical context. We are committed to find new ideas and strengthen the general public\u2019s involvement.\u201d<\/p>\n