Reflection and Reconciliation

by Joana Owona, ARSP Volunteer

A couple of months ago I was
still sitting at home, in Germany, eagerly waiting for an email that would
hopefully tell me I was accepted to do a yearlong voluntary service here in
the Jewish Museum in London. 

When that eventually really did happen, I was so
excited. I jumped down the stairwell to tell my family. Unfortunately no one
was home – but that’s not the point of what I am writing about!

The point is that I am thrilled about the
incredible opportunity I have been given. I am here with a German organisation
called Action Reconciliation Service for Peace, ARSP for short (in German: Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste / ASF). 

ARSP is all about
working towards reconciliation, peace, equality and understanding. The
organisation wants to raise awareness for the still perceptible consequences
resulting out of the history of violence of National Socialism in Nazi Germany
and, most importantly, it wants to fight all forms of Anti-Semitism, racism,
discrimination and social exclusion of minorities today. 

To accomplish that goal
ARSP is striving to establish a rapprochement between generations, cultures,
religions and nations and is encouraging a Jewish-Christian dialogue. The most
vital part of that is the peace services that are provided for
180 young volunteers, aged between 18-25, every year. The volunteers are active
in thirteen different countries in a variety of social, cultural, political,
historical and educational projects.

Joana teaching children how to play dreidl at our Hanukah Family Day

I started my project here in the museum in September
2016 and have just finished my first term. What I am doing here includes several
activities. On an everyday basis I am helping out in the school workshops,
guiding the students through the galleries and documenting their evaluation
about their visit to the museum. 

I love attending the school workshops because
they are not only amazing quality every single time, but they are also
extremely educational for me. Collectively with the students I’ve gained a way
bigger amount of knowledge about Judaism than I would’ve expected when I came
here.

Joana (far right) with other members of museums staff after completeing a ‘Judaism for Dummies’ course with Rabbi Mendy Korer

As well as helping in these workshops I have several
other projects I enjoy. On weekends I often attend fun Family Days, I have prepared and
delivered an object talk for the museum staff, researched and written an
article for the Objects in Focus teachers resource page on the museum website, on Interfaith Day I went to the Museum of London
with another member of the Learning Team to help deliver a workshop, I have had
the incredible opportunity to listen to many of the survivor speakers that are
telling their story to the school children in certain workshops and I
successfully attended the course ‘Judaism for Dummies’ with Rabbi Mendy (I even
received a certificate for proof!). All of these projects (amongst other things I’ve done)
have contributed an awful lot to this voluntary service being so enriching in
those first few months already.

Delivering  an object talk to museum staff

My ARSP voluntary service also includes another
project that I am involved in on Fridays. I visit a Jewish refugee for a couple of hours, who fled from Austria in
the Second World War when she was 14 years old. This part of the voluntary
service, or sometimes also so-called ‘peace service’, is organised by the
Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR).

Founded in 1941, AJR is extended to all
Jewish victims of Nazi oppression, their spouses and also to the children and
grandchildren of Holocaust survivors and refugees and all of them are being
supported socially with welfare and care services. 

I am so incredibly happy that I have taken on this
journey to go abroad for one year and I am especially happy that I’ve done it
with ARSP and that I had the great luck of being placed in this museum. And I
know that the next time I am jumping down a stairwell out of excitement will be
when I am telling my family how amazing and wonderful this year has been.