Learn and teach

The Living History Forum is commissioned by the government to be national wide center for promoting democracy, tolerance and human rights using the Holocaust and other crimes against humanity as its starting point. The core mission of this governmental agency is to promote people's will to strive for a society equal for all. This task is linked to the mission of education and information. The Living History Forum is not commissioned to conduct research. However surveys on attitudes in society is implemented by this governmental agency. Having an understanding of why people are intolerant, the form it takes and how geographically widespread it is, is crucial to finding ways of combating such attitudes.

The Living History Forum works closely with scholars who research into areas such as racism, antisemitism, antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination and Islamophobia in Swedish society. The agency also publishes other types of reports based on various types of surveys. One example is a report on the experiences of teachers and their attitudes to teaching about the Holocaust.

Racism concerns us all. There are many who testify to how widespread racism is in society. But what exactly is racism, and how can we increase respect for equality between all people? Through knowledge and awareness, we strive to strengthen society’s ability to prevent and counteract racism. We want to inspire conversations about racism in schools and at work, but also between government agencies and other societal actors.

We offer pedagogic resources, educational texts, reports, podcasts, and films relating to racism. We also arrange seminars, live events, conferences, and in-service training.

The Living History Forum is tasked with coordinating the Swedish government’s national agenda against racism and to train school personnel and public servants at, for example, the National Insurance Office, police, and social services regarding racism throughout history and today.

The Living History Forum offers:

• Classroom materials about racism for lower and upper secondary school
• Seminars and in-service training about racism for school staff
• Online in-service training for public servants about racism, focused on equal treatment
• Basic in-service training for public service workers regarding racism
• Online course on how pre-schools and schools can counteract racism
• Guidance and skills development for Swedish Dembra schools. Dembra is a programme for schools to prevent racism, group-based hostility and antidemocratic attitudes 

The Living History Forum also heads the network of state agencies that work against racism, other similar forms of hostility and hate crimes. The purpose of the network is to function as a platform for skills development and experience sharing among state agencies. The network is open for all Swedish state agencies.

Our educational activities are primarily directed toward teachers and students in elementary and secondary school.

We offer material for the classroom, exhibitions with associated workshops for school, as well as in-service training for teachers.

Our activities and choice of methods are centred around the advancement of democracy, tolerance, and human rights. With the history of the Holocaust as our foundation, we aim to strengthen the will of adolescents to actively work toward equality between all humans.

Our work is characterised by connections between the past, the present, and the future. This perspective makes it clear why history is important for understanding and analysis. It allows us to assess our present and its significance for our future.

Through the visualisation of historic settings, we illustrate intolerance and its consequences for individuals and for the preconditions of democracy. Our educational work aims to encourage critical thinking, using history as a tool for reflection.

Since its inception, young students and their teachers have been the main target group for The Living History Forum’s educational programs. However, in 2019 we were one of four government agencies* tasked within a new National initiative from the Swedish Government aimed at target groups not always reached by education about the Holocaust and antisemitism, antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination and other forms of racism.

This included learners in non-formal adult education systems, students with neuropsychiatric disorders, newly arrived immigrants and vocational students. This meant striving for increased accessibility and different aids without simplifying the complex issues.

After working closely with the target groups and partners, our new platform launched in March 2021.

Watch a film about the project to learn more: