MAHOPAC- A visit by Mahopac High School students to the Human Rights Institute for High School Leaders, hosted by the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center at Iona University followed by two guest speakers Friday who shared deeply personal stories connected to the Holocaust allowed the teenagers to explore issues of intolerance, prejudice and human rights while encouraging participants to take action within their own communities.
Students attended workshops led by peers and engaged in discussions focused on recognizing human rights violations and developing plans to address them. The experience emphasized the importance of becoming “upstanders,” individuals who speak out and take action in the face of injustice.
Upon their return to the Putnam County campus, Joan Poulin, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, spoke about uncovering her family’s history through letters her father preserved, offering insight into the experiences of those who fled Nazi Germany and those who were left behind while Dr. Aliza Levy-Erber, a Holocaust survivor, shared her powerful story of survival as an infant hidden during the war and reflected on the long-term impact of trauma, resilience and the importance of remembrance.
Amanda Gambacorta Counihan, Mahopac’s secondary special education department chair, who helped to organize the special initiative noted: “These experiences give our students a powerful opportunity to connect history to real human stories and reflect on their role in standing up for others. It is important that they not only learn about the past but also understand how they can make a positive difference in the world today.”
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