Train of 1000 – International Youth-meeting Auschwitz 2015

1. März 2015

The great event, the international youth meetings « Train of Thousand » is in its final stage of preparation. Born in the joint responsibility of the « Institut des Vétérans », the Belgian Auschwitz Foundation and the FIR will be – under the auspices of Philippe, King of the Belgians – in May 2015 again around 1000 young people from different European countries and Israel together for the occasion in the memorial Auschwitz. Up to now there are registrations from Belgium, Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Other interested participants are expected from Russia, Bulgaria, Denmark, Israel and Spain. Not all participants will arrive by train from Brussels to Krakow, particularly from the eastern and south-eastern countries, the participants will come directly to Poland. On Tuesday, May 5, 2015, therefore, about 700 teenagers of Belgium and nearly 200 young people from other countries will start from Belgium with the train to Poland. In Poland, there will be an intensive program with guided tours of the memorial, talking with time-witnesses, commemorations, encounters between young people and impressions of present-day Poland. The return trip takes place on the evening of May 9, so that the participants will be on May 10, 2015. in their home countries. We are very glad that this year, the European Union is supporting this project with a large sum of money. Thus, it is possible to enable young people, especially from Southern European countries travel to Brussels for the common start of the memorial ride. Although there will be held simultaneously official events in different European countries leading representatives of the FIR take part in this « Train of Thousand » and the official ceremony in memorial Auschwitz, at least a Vice-President, the General Secretary and other members of the Executive Committee. At the memorial service on May 8, 2015, the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz is expected to come.