About the Tour for Humanity

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) has created the Tour for Humanity (T4H). This exciting educational initiative is a fully self-contained mobile classroom that educates students in a highly interactive environment. The Tour for Humanity inspires and empowers students to raise their voices and take action against hate and intolerance to help make the world a better place.

Since its launch in 2013, T4H has educated over 150,000 students at 750 schools and communities across Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec. The bus travels throughout Canada, educating people from different personal and professional backgrounds and experiences. It provides education on historical events, and focus on how these events are relevant to both Canadian and global perspectives.

Education programs on T4H have been specially crafted for both students and adults alike. For this reason, we are able to engage all age groups and specifically cater workshops to impact everyone including law enforcement, educators, students, business and community leaders and government.

Booking the Tour

Each session is led by an experienced educator to introduce the content and lead the discussion. The classroom teacher is responsible for preparing students with pre and post activities and assignments. We have also developed educational materials for teachers to make use of before and after the program, in order to begin and continue conversations about the topics covered.

Each session is approximately 45-60 minutes long, and can accommodate one class of 30 people at a time. During a typical school day, this would accommodate up to six classes or 180 students per day.

Programming is directly linked to the Ontario Ministry of Education expectations including:

• Grades 6 – 12 Media Literacy
• Grades 6 – 12 Language > Oral Communication
• Grades 9 – 12 Canadian & World History
• Grade 10 – Civics
• Grade 12 – World Religions
• Grade 12 – International Law
• Equity & Inclusivity Strategy

The T4H bus requires a designated parking area of 20ft x 50ft to park the bus and allow students to flow on and off safely. There is a fee to bring the bus to schools. Please contact tourforhumanity@fswc.ca or 416.864.9735 x 22 for more information.

Workshop Options

1. The Global Experience: This workshop begins with a screening of a three-part documentary series produced by FSWC focusing on The Holocaust, Universal Genocide and Real-World Heroes. The Ten Stages of Genocide are then discussed in relation to the Holocaust and student discussion is encouraged. Suitable for Grades 9-12.
2. The Canadian Experience: In this workshop, students learn about a variety of topics in Canadian history including the Indian Residential Schools System and the systemic internment of Japanese Canadians during the Second World War. Following a review of the past, current issues including cyber bullying and modern-day examples of intolerance are examined and discussed. Suitable for Grades 6-10.
3. Simon’s Story: Aimed at junior audiences, the goal of this workshop is to enhance elementary school students’ ability to become proactive members of society by influencing positive change. Stereotypes, racism and prejudice are defined and discussed in an age-appropriate manner. Suitable for Grades 3-6.
4. Lessons and Legacy of the Holocaust: “The Holocaust is not just a Jewish story, but a human story.” Explore the history of the Holocaust and the attitudes and social forces that enabled one of the darkest periods of human history to occur. Suitable for Grades 7-12.

Community Events

The Tour for Humanity is a great vehicle to begin a community dialogue and to showcase support for human rights. We invite communities to exhibit the “Bus” by working alongside our education team to create an impressive program. Although not exhaustive, here are some ideas of where and how T4H can be utilized:

• Conferences
• City/Town Fairs, Parades, Exhibitions
• City Halls showcasing diversity programs
• Police colleges / training / departments
• General diversity/ sensitivity training
• Home fundraising events
• Summer camps – Human Rights Day
• Press Conferences (depending)
• Promoting freedom, respect, human rights
• Civic and Religious holidays

Contact Information

For more information or to book T4H at your school or community, please contact us:
tourforhumanity@fswc.ca or 416.864.9735