| Terezínská iniciativa: | TI | časopis TI |
| Institut Terezínské iniciativy: | ITI | publikace | databáze | uprchlíci | knihovna |
The Terezín Initiative is an association of Holocaust survivors in the Czech Republic. After the fall of the communist regime, the former Jewish prisoners of Terezín and other concentration camps used the possibility to organize themselves outside the then existing official organizations. The Terezín Initiative was founded in 1991, on the 50th anniversary of the first transport from Prague to Lodz, which was connected with a large commemorative act. For many former prisoners, this was the first occasion after a long time to meet their fellow-prisoners and friends.
The major task of the Terezín Initiative is to represent the Holocaust survivors living in the Czech Republic, to enforce their legal and other claims connected with the persecution during the World War II, and to boost their influence within the Czech public. The Terezín Initiative takes care of the social and healthcare needs of its members and tries to help in improving quality of their life. The Terezín Initiative organizes or sponsors different cultural events related to the Holocaust and especially to the Terezín concentration camp.
The Terezín Initiative makes an effort at keeping the memory of the Holocaust alive and to commemorate the victims of Nazi murderous policy. It wants to contribute to the improvement of the Holocaust education in Czech schools and to raise general awareness about the Holocaust among Czech public. Currently, two main educational projects take place. The Terezín Initiative sponsors fact-finding trips of Czech schools to Terezín. The second project is an educational website about the Holocaust. Besides this, the members of the Terezín Initiative participate in numerous discussions with school children in the Czech Republic as well as abroad.
In 1992, the Terezín Initiative has founded a special institute devoted to the scientific research of the history of Terezín and of the "final solution of the Jewish question" in Czech Lands. Originally its name was Terezín Initiative Foundation; at the end of 1998 it was renamed to Terezín Initiative Institute (Institut Terezínské iniciativy).
The Terezín Initiative publishes its newsletter Terezínská iniciativa that informs the members of all the important activities, news, cultural events etc. The newsletter serves also as a forum for publishing different messages to the eyewitnesses and for connecting people who lost contact with their relatives or fellow-prisoners. Since year 2000 the newsletter is also published on the Internet.
The Terezín Initiative is led by a board of approximately twenty representatives elected at the annual assembly of its members. The chairman of the Terezín Initiative is currently PhDr. Dagmar Lieblová. The current by-laws allow to apply for the membership for all Holocaust survivors who live or lived in the Czech Republic or who were imprisoned in Terezín; and for their family members.