3. Introduction
Many people are familiar with the events of the
Holocaust, a horrific act of genocide during World War
II that targeted Jews and other minorities and claimed
the lives of more than six million innocent people. With
such a catastrophic death toll, it’s no surprise that the
Holocaust is such a well-known and studied event, but
what about other acts of genocide that have occurred
in modern history? While it may come as a surprise, the
Holocaust is only one example among dozens of other
tragic genocides, some of which even rival the death
toll of the Holocaust. Why, then, does the Holocaust
stand out among the rest of the tragedies? One likely
reason that the Holocaust is the singular event most
often associated with genocide is that people are more
educated on the Holocaust. There are more than 60
museums and memorials in the United States alone and
more than 150 others around the world that are
devoted to the task of educating people on the horrors
of the Holocaust.
4. Introduction (cont’d)
Without question, education on these matters is a
noble and vital task: education is the primary vehicle
for eradicating ignorance and intolerance among
different groups and preventing future atrocities
from occurring. It is for precisely this reason that
memorials exist. In an effort to promote such
education, the United Nations Office on Genocide
Prevention has chosen to sponsor a contest* in
which applicants will submit a proposed design and
rationale for a new memorial honoring the victims of
a lesser-known act of genocide. The following pages
contain contest guidelines, evaluation criteria, and
resources that will help applicants compile the
information needed to complete this task.
*Disclaimer: This contest is fictitious.
5. Task
On the “Process” pages of this presentation, you will find the case studies mentioned
above. You will also find links to resources that will help guide your research and the
creation of your proposal. NO LATE PROPOSALS WILL BE ACCEPTED. The entire
proposal must be submitted by Monday, June 4th or the entrant will be disqualified.
Before you can begin working on your proposal, you
must complete two case studies: one on genocide
and one on memorials. These case studies will
provide you with invaluable background knowledge
needed to write a winning proposal. Use the
checklist provided as you work to ensure you include
all necessary elements. Your proposal will need to
include the following items:
• Background of event
• Design plan + rationale
• Visual aid
6. Process: Genocide Study
Explore the links below to research and learn
about modern instances of genocide. Choose one
example that resonates with you. Record
important details about this event on your
Genocide Case Study notes page.
Using the knowledge you gained from your
research, write a one-page paper describing the
event (follow the same format as the notes
sheet). This paragraph will serve as the
Background of Event section of your memorial
proposal.
“I don't want to have lived in vain like most people. I want
to be useful or bring enjoyment to all people, even those
I've never met. I want to go on living even after my death!”
Examples: Link 1 Examples: Link 2 Examples: Link 3
If you wish to research an act of genocide that is not discussed on
any of the sites linked above, you must obtain permission from
the commission prior to starting your memorial proposal.
7. Process: Memorial
StudyUse the links in the margins to explore a
variety of memorials in the U.S. and abroad.
Choose one example that resonates with you.
Record important details about the memorial
on your Memorial Case Study notes page.
Consider the features that these memorials
have in common, then design a memorial for
the genocide you researched in your previous
case study. In a page, describe the elements
of your memorial and provide an explanation
for your choices. This paragraph will serve as
the Design Plan section of your memorial
proposal. Create a 2D or 3D model of your
memorial to accompany the written
description of it.
USS Arizona Mem.
Hiroshima Memorial
Holocaust Memorial
WWII Memorial
Lynching Memorial
Vietnam Memorial
9/11 WTC Memorial
Pentagon Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
FDR Memorial
MLK Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
More Holocaust
Memorials
8. Resources
Below are the links to the worksheets for those interested in entering the worksheets.
Please see the contest facilitator, Mrs. Drace, if you have trouble accessing resources.
Proposal Checklist
Genocide Case Study Worksheet
Memorial Case Study Worksheet
“Earning happiness means doing good and working, not
speculating and being lazy. Laziness may look inviting, but only
work gives you true satisfaction.”
Link List
9. Conclusion
Congratulations on completing your proposal! We are so grateful for your help with
this great task and are delighted to be able to consider your design for our next
project. We hope that you have come to understand the importance of remembering
tragedies such as genocide, as well as the role that memorials can play in that process.
Through these symbolic efforts, we can continue to educate others and eventually rid
the world of discrimination.
“People can tell you to keep your mouth shut, but that doesn't
stop you from having your own opinion.”
