The Model School Initiative in Moldova was carried out in cooperation with I.P. Liceul Teatral Orasenesc “Iurie Harmelin”, a theater lyceum in Moldova’s capital.
The Model School Initiative supported teachers and inspired students to explore Jewish heritage and history and its influence on Moldovan society through the Jewish cemetery in the capital of Moldova. Creative methods were applied so that the students of the Theatre High School could explore the topics in alignment with their own interests. Activities in this project included visits to the Jewish cemetery in Chisinau guided by Irina Shikhova, director of the Jewish Museum of Moldova, and the development of podcast episodes containing interviews with Jewish stakeholders. An essay competition challenging students to (re-)think Jewish heritage and cemeteries took place, from which the best essays were presented at a public event in May 2023.
The responsible educator of the Model School was Svetlana Kostețkaia, who carried out the project together with school principal Natalia Vîsotina and teachers Alina Șișchina and Tatiana Topală.
The students produced a video recording their visit to the Jewish cemetery:
Below is a small collection of essay presentations, written and presented by students within the Model School Initiative:
1st essay presentation:
2nd essay presentation:
Here you will find the podcast episode, in which students interviewed Irina Shikhova, director of the Jewish Museum of Moldova:
Below is the podcast episode, in which students interviewed Wolf Rapaport, who has ancestors buried at the cemetery and speaks about what the cemetery means to him:
We want to give our special thanks to Svetlana Kostețkaia and the other supporting educators at our Model School, and a congratulations to all participating students, especially the winners of the essay competition!
