Mission and Vision of WE ARE HERE!
Using the stories of the Jewish Partisans, WE ARE HERE! seeks to inspire in young people the confidence and ability to stand up in the face of prejudice and oppression.
WE ARE HERE! works to:
Encourage and inspire Upstanders through the stories of Jewish Partisans and the learning of Zog Nit Keynmol – the Jewish Partisan anthem
Provide role models for standing up for yourself in the face of prejudice, hatred, violence and evil
Show that an individual can make a difference – regardless of their personal circumstances
Translate the stories of Jewish Partisans and the words of Zog Nit Keynmol into a universal message of hope and inspiration for all who are victims of prejudice and oppression
Empower young people to create the change they want to see in their communities and the world.
Teach that while the partisans used weapons – they were fighting the Nazis – you can fight oppression with only your voice and presence
Upstanders are people who do more than just refuse to participate in negative activities – these are known as bystanders. Upstanders act – they take steps to stop or prevent acts of prejudice and violence from happening. Having the courage and ability to do this requires both knowledge and inspiration. WE ARE HERE! has the mission of providing both a historical perspective of what happens when people don’t act, and role models of those who did stand up and work to stop the ultimate evil of the Nazis. Creating a personal connection to an individual partisan’s story, learning about the variety of things that partisans did, and hearing the story of Zog Nit Keynmol, allows young people to realize the impact that they can have on their own lives and those of others around them who are victims of prejudice.