Till innehåll

Learn and teach

We offer material for the classroom, reports, exhibitions with associated workshops for schools and in-service training for teachers and public servants.

En skolklass i workshop.

Students during a workshop in the exhibition Anne Frank - Let me be myself. Photo: Linda Rehlin.

Reports and Surveys

The Living History Forum is commissioned by the government to be national wide center for promoting democracy, tolerance and human rights using the Holocaust and other crimes against humanity as its starting point. The core mission of this governmental agency is to promote people's will to strive for a society equal for all. This task is linked to the mission of education and information. The Living History Forum is not commissioned to conduct research. However surveys on attitudes in society is implemented by this governmental agency. Having an understanding of why people are intolerant, the form it takes and how geographically widespread it is, is crucial to finding ways of combating such attitudes.

The Living History Forum works closely with scholars who research into areas such as racism, antisemitism, antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination and Islamophobia in Swedish society. The agency also publishes other types of reports based on various types of surveys. One example is a report on the experiences of teachers and their attitudes to teaching about the Holocaust.

Some of our reports and surveys translated into English

    Summary of the study Antisemitism in Sweden

    This study compares antisemitic attitudes and ideas in the Swedish society from 2005 to 2020. The aim is to increase knowledge about antisemitism, add to earlier research, and contribute to a comprehensive view of the current situation.

      Destination Auschwitz – About Swedish school trips to Holocaust memorial sites

      This is a study of how Swedish teachers perceive and carry out journeys with students to Holocaust related memorial sites in Poland and Germany.

        Perceptions of the Holocaust

        This is a study of how adult Swedes perceives the Holocaust and the significance they attribute to it.

          Historical research into racism

          This is an analytical survey of Swedish historical research into racism, xenophobia and intolerance.

            Crimes against humanity under communist regimes – Research review

            This report is an analysis of research carried out on crimes against humanity perpetrated by communist regimes in the Soviet Union, China and Cambodia.

            Efforts against racism

            Racism concerns us all. There are many who testify to how widespread racism is in society. But what exactly is racism, and how can we increase respect for equality between all people? Through knowledge and awareness, we strive to strengthen society’s ability to prevent and counteract racism. We want to inspire conversations about racism in schools and at work, but also between government agencies and other societal actors.

            We offer pedagogic resources, educational texts, reports, podcasts, and films relating to racism. We also arrange seminars, live events, conferences, and in-service training.

            The Living History Forum is tasked with coordinating the Swedish government’s national agenda against racism and to train school personnel and public servants at, for example, the National Insurance Office, police, and social services regarding racism throughout history and today.

            The Living History Forum offers:

            • Classroom materials about racism for lower and upper secondary school
            • Seminars and in-service training about racism for school staff
            • Online in-service training for public servants about racism, focused on equal treatment
            • Basic in-service training for public service workers regarding racism
            • Online course on how pre-schools and schools can counteract racism
            • Guidance and skills development for Swedish Dembra schools. Dembra is a programme for schools to prevent racism, group-based hostility and antidemocratic attitudes 

            The Living History Forum also heads the network of state agencies that work against racism, other similar forms of hostility and hate crimes. The purpose of the network is to function as a platform for skills development and experience sharing among state agencies. The network is open for all Swedish state agencies.

            Educational resources

            About the agency’s educational work

            Our educational activities are primarily directed toward teachers and students in elementary and secondary school.

            We offer material for the classroom, exhibitions with associated workshops for school, as well as in-service training for teachers.

            Our activities and choice of methods are centred around the advancement of democracy, tolerance, and human rights. With the history of the Holocaust as our foundation, we aim to strengthen the will of adolescents to actively work toward equality between all humans.

            Our work is characterised by connections between the past, the present, and the future. This perspective makes it clear why history is important for understanding and analysis. It allows us to assess our present and its significance for our future.

            Through the visualisation of historic settings, we illustrate intolerance and its consequences for individuals and for the preconditions of democracy. Our educational work aims to encourage critical thinking, using history as a tool for reflection.

            Some of our educational material translated into English

              Mission: Democracy

              Mission: Democracy consists of workshops covering democracy, tolerance, and human rights. Using historic events and personal accounts as their starting point, students are encouraged to discuss and reflect on current social issues.

                LGBTQI, Norms & Power

                This material deals with our rights – yours and mine – and about our opportunities to be what we want to be. History is filled with people who have stood up against restrictive norms and laws. Participants will meet some of the people who have fought for respect and the equal worth and rights of all people.

                  ...Tell Ye Your Children…

                  The book presents facts about the Holocaust and attempts to explain how the unimaginable became reality. This book describes what human beings are capable of doing to other human beings when democratic values have been destroyed and replaced by an ideology advocating intolerance, hate and violence.

                  Education for all - a national initiative

                  Since its inception, young students and their teachers have been the main target group for The Living History Forum’s educational programs. However, in 2019 we were one of four government agencies* tasked within a new National initiative from the Swedish Government aimed at target groups not always reached by education about the Holocaust and antisemitism, antigypsyism/anti-Roma discrimination and other forms of racism.

                  This included learners in non-formal adult education systems, students with neuropsychiatric disorders, newly arrived immigrants and vocational students. This meant striving for increased accessibility and different aids without simplifying the complex issues.

                  After working closely with the target groups and partners, our new platform launched in March 2021.

                  Watch a film about the project to learn more:

                  Education for all - a national initiative

                  Related content

                    Contact and visit

                    Find our opening hours, what exhibitions we are currently showing and ways to contact us.

                      Connect and facilitate

                      Read more about about our international networking, what we do and how we do it.

                        Remembrance

                        We work with education and remembrance of the Holocaust and other crimes against humanity . Remembrance to honour the victims and the people of the resistance. Education to present facts of what happened in history and to encourage critical thinking today.