“When I decided to apply for German citizenship, it wasn‘t about the benefits of travelling abroad, it felt like something profound in my family history. An opportunity to move on from what was taken away from my grandmother and incredibly symbolic in its retribution. I was very taken aback by the emotion I felt and just how healing the process was.” Annie Lew, 3G
The AJR is on a mission to galvanise the Next Generations to enrol and drive forward Holocaust memory. The organisation lines up rich and varied cultural experiences, social gatherings and events, which foster an environment for younger people to connect over their shared family history and perpetuate the legacy of their unique community.
We are proud to be the UK’s largest community of descendants, which increasingly include the third and fourth generations.
(Re)claiming European citizenship is a hot topic within the AJR community. Whether or not to apply; who is eligible; how to apply; how long does the process take, and the reasons behind wanting a European citizenship lead to many interesting debates which is why we chose to hold our Citizenship event on a sunny Sunday afternoon in August.
Speakers included representatives from the German, Austrian and Czech embassies who were able to give insider advice on their application processes. Also sharing their knowledge were AJR second-generation members who are experts on specific topics such as the EU Passport Project, voting rights for new Austrian citizens, and the Article 116 Reconciliation Project for German citizens. The last panel featured a conversation between mother and daughter (2G and 3G) about the emotional context behind applying for European citizenship.
“The AJR has excellent relationships with the relevant embassies in the UK and we’re delighted to be able to assist our members to reconnect with a part of their identity that the Nazis took away from their parents and grandparents. In so doing, we are honoured to enable the next generations to continue their family legacy.” Debra Barnes, AJR Next Generations Manager
Photos @Adam Soller Photography
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