Introduction

The Crocus Project was created to remind people that one and a half million Jewish children died during the Holocaust, and that many thousands of children also died during the Second World War. It is intended for pupils aged eleven to eighteen years.

Pupils from Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Poland and the UK already participate in this project.

Schools first register for the project and then receive crocus bulbs from Holocaust Educational Trust Ireland (HETI) or their partners in European countries.

 

They plant these crocus bulbs in autumn and when the crocuses bloom in spring the yellow flowers remind them of the yellow Star of David that Jews were compelled to wear by the Nazis. The crocuses remind us of the victims of the Holocaust, but they also remind us that spring is here and there is life and hope for the future.

The Crocus Project also raises awareness about the dangers of discrimination, prejudice and bigotry.

 

Planting the Crocus Bulbs in Galway

Schools from Germany, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden have just commenced a Strategic School Partnership and an eTwinning Project, entitled “Global Citizenship Steps in Europe”. These projects have been officially launched by the Irish Minister of Education, Ms Jan O’Sullivan. We felt that the Crocus Project was particularly relevant to our projects – it reminded our school communities of the victims of the holocaust, while at the same time making us aware of the dangers of prejudice and discrimination.

 

The planting of the crocus bulbs in Galway was hugely symbolic because each visiting teacher planted a bulb – Gemma and Maria from Catalonia, Nadine from Germany, Nikos and Iraklis from The Hellenic Republic, Carlos and Joao from Portugal, Maria and Marta from Slovakia, Eva-Marie and Marita from Sweden, and Margaret, Dan and Brendan from Ireland. The pupils of Ms Cunningham’s sixth class also planted a bulb each. We planted the bulbs in the shape of the Star of David. The ceremony was very moving and we now look forward to the crocus flowers in spring. The pupils of sixth class will monitor the progress of theses bulbs.

 

                                                         Planting the Crocus Bulbs in Stockholm
In October the fifth grade at our schools in Sweden planted crocuses in the park Bergsgruvan, in a shape of the Jewish star. In January we read the book "Uppdraget" (the Comission) by the Swedish author Camilla Lagerqvist. To learn more about what happened in the Nordic countries during the World War II. January the 27th the Day of Remembrance, we went there to find that we will have to wait until spring before we'll see any yellow flowers.

 

Planting the Crocus Bulbs in Thessaloniki