The Human Rights & Holocaust Studies Program
Website: http://humanrights.asperfoundation.com
The idea for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights arose from the powerful impact that The Asper Foundation’s Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program was having on its participants.
Almost 9,400 Canadian high school students and chaperones from 116 communities in every province and two territories have participated in this program since its 1997 inception in Winnipeg. Students participate in 16-18 hours of intensive training covering a variety of topics from the history of the Holocaust to an examination of current human rights issues in the world. Program students are expected to complete 16 hours of approved community service projects underscoring their responsibility as citizens and impressing upon them the difference one person can make. Over 100,000 hours of community service has being carried out across Canada since the program was established. The Asper Foundation contributes and raises, with partners, over a million dollars annually to facilitate the participation of high school students and their chaperones in the program.
The program culminates with a visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. As students tour America’s national institution for the documentation, study and interpretation of Holocaust history, the issues they have studied come to life and are indelibly imprinted in their minds.
A closing ceremony is held where all students sign a Memorandum for Personal Responsibility which commits them not to be indifferent, but to take personal responsibility for the advancement of human rights. Students return from the program informed, inspired and ready to take action. The program is the recipient of the 2004 Human Rights Award from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and The Asper Foundation received the 2008 New Brunswick Pioneer of Human Rights Award from the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission.
Seeing how powerful an impact the program was having on its participants, Israel Asper envisioned that it would be even more compelling if more students could participate, and if they were inspired by Canada’s human rights heroes and stories. He started looking to find a way to offer students a Canadian experience.
Unfortunately, nowhere in Canada could a comparable program be found.
Israel Asper’s determination to fill that void, coupled with his belief that badges of federalism should be located throughout the country, inspired him to propose that the Federal Government create the Canadian Museum for Human Rights as a national museum located in Winnipeg.
After two years of planning, on April 17, 2003, The Asper Foundation in joint partnership with the Government of Canada, Province of Manitoba, City of Winnipeg and the Forks North Portage Partnership announced the establishment of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg. A distinctive, architecturally exceptional Museum that will help to eliminate intolerance through recognition of human rights as the foundation for human equality, dignity and freedom worldwide.
