About
About Centropa
Centropa is a Jewish historical institute dedicated to preserving 20th century Jewish family stories from Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans, and working with teachers to use those stories to engage their students in conversations about history, civics, and ethics.
Since 2000, Centropa has interviewed 1,200 elderly Jews in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as digitalized more than 22,000 of their family photographs. These materials are today available and searchable on our website. Using our stories, we create short multimedia films and exhibitions perfect for classroom use, and work with educators in over 500 schools in 18 countries.
About the Centropa Summer Academy (CSA)
Each summer, we bring together over 70 educators from more than 15 countries to the great cities of Europe. During our intense 7-day program, we use the city as our classroom as well as the stories we collected to learn about history and its implications for us today. The core of the CSA is the active participation of teachers, who share their experiences and good practices with each other, and work on lesson plans and cross-border projects together.
This year, the Centropa Summer Academy will take place in Berlin, 8-15 July.
To view our preliminary program, click here.
Who can apply?
Applications for the CSA are open for teachers and educators in the US, Israel, and Europe.
We accept applications from Israel and the following European countries: Austria, Bosnia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine. Teachers from Jewish schools may apply from any European country.
In North America, we welcome applications from middle/high school teachers, county/district education /school administrators, and museum/Holocaust organization educators. While we encourage applications from every state and Canada, due to our funding sources, we will likely have funding primarily to bring public school educators from Newark, NJ; Baltimore, MD; South Carolina; North Carolina; South Florida; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; and possibly Chicago.
Teachers from all levels of the school system are welcome to apply, as well as educators from other educational institutions such as museums. We welcome teachers who have already been in contact with us, as well as those who are new to Centropa, but preference will be given to educators who can demonstrate that they have already used Centropa resources.
What are the costs of the CSA?
Teachers from Europe: During the Summer Academy, we will cover your hotel, meals, and program. We ask you to - at least partially - cover your travel costs for yourself. Those who really need it can apply for travel reimbursement for up to 100€. Besides, we ask each participant to pay a 50€ registration fee, the rides to/from airports, and meals on free evenings (4-5). The fee you only have to pay after we announced that your application has been accepted. Special scholarships are available for those who can not afford to pay this fee.
Teachers from Israel: We cover all your costs during the Centropa Summer Academy, including your hotel, meals, travel and transportation costs up to 350€, and program. The only thing you have to pay for yourself is a 50€ registration fee, the rides to/from airports, and meals on free evenings (4-5). The fee you only have to pay after we announced that your application has been accepted. Special scholarships are available for those who can not afford to pay this fee.
Teachers from the US and Canada: we estimate the total cost of the trip will be $3,500, including air fare. While we do our best to raise funds to cover as many of the costs for teachers as possible, we ask that you search for funds, as well. Private school teachers: we ask that your school cover as much of the trip cost as possible and, minimally, your air fare. Public school teachers: we will do our best to find funding for your trip, and ask that you help find funding from your PTA, school, local organizations, or teacher fellowships. All participants must pay a 100 USD registration fee, cover rides to/from airports, and meals on free evenings (4-5). The fee you only have to pay after we announced that your application has been accepted. Special scholarships are available for those who can not afford to pay this fee.
In return to the free CSA experience, we expect you to take part in the whole program actively, use our materials upon your return home, and share the lesson plans you created with us.
Do you have more questions?
Contact Bori Pál at pal@centropa.org.
Meet Centropa’s team for the Summer Academy 2019
Edward Serotta
Edward Serotta is the founding director of Centropa. He is a journalist, photographer and filmmaker specializing in Jewish life in Central and Eastern Europe. Born in Savannah, Georgia, Edward has worked in Central Europe since 1985, has published three books, and contributed to Time Magazine, The L.A.Times, The Washington Post, and other outlets.
As for the CSA, Edward uses his vast personal experience, connections and ideas to make sure that the Summer Academy is a unique and unforgettable learning experience for each participant.
Marcell Kenesei
Marcell is the deputy director of Centropa; besides, he is the director of CJN – Centropa’s network of European Jewish schools, and he is also responsible for our programs in Israel and in Hungary.
During the CSA he is responsible for the program, educational content, and the participants of Hungary, Israel, and European Jewish schools.
Fabian Rühle
Fabian Rühle is our European Education Director, developing materials and running seminars for teachers all over Europe. He is also our liaison for European governments and foundations, and he coordinates our fundraising in Europe. In 2015, he opened our Germany office and is now based in Hamburg.
During the CSA, he is responsible for the program, educational content, and finances.
Lauren Granite
Dr. Lauren Granite directs our US educational programs. Since 2010 she has been building our network of Jewish day and congregational schools; expanding into public, parochial and charter schools; running workshops and seminars; mentoring teachers; writing lessons and projects; and establishing teacher advisory teams to advise us about Centropa curricula.
During the CSA, she is responsible for the program, educational content, and the participants of the United States.
Bori Pál
Bori (Borbála) Pál works in the Hungarian Centropa office and coordinates the Centropa Jewish Network, the unique Centropa Network for European Jewish Schools.
During CSA, she is responsible for handling applications and being in touch with participants.
Magdaléna Farnesi
Magda is the motor of all logistics issues in the German team: she organizes seminars and summer academies.
During the CSA, she is responsible for the logistics – from locations and transportations to meals and schedule.
Maximilan von Schoeler
Based in Berlin, Max is supporting Centropa’s Trans.History project in logistics and fundraising, and is responsible for social media and website content.
During the CSA, he is responsible for technology.
Wolfgang Els
Wolfi studied filmmaking and is our chief filmmaker, sound engineer and sometimes graphic designer.
During the CSA, he’ll help the work of the video elective group.
Jonathan Schwers
Jonathan began as an intern at Centropa in 2018 and we asked him to stay on. He has been carrying out research in our archive as well as helping with our teachers’ seminars.
Robi Bácsi
Robi is an award-winning photographer based in Budapest, Hungary. He is especially interested in the lives and fates of everyday people, therefore travelling, portraits and documentary photography is the closest to him. His photographs regularly appear in magazines and daily papers. He documents Centropa events and interviewees from 2004, and will be responsible for taking photos during CSA 2019.
Contact Us
+43 1 4090 971
office@centropa.org