UNESCO supports mixed reality production of a Holocaust survivor

Some stories should never fade away. UNESCO has partnered with Meta and StoryFile to develop “Tell me, Inge…”, an interactive and immersive education experience about the Holocaust revolving around memories of Inge Auerbach, who survived the Theresienstadt Ghetto as a 7-year-old girl. The production uses mixed reality (XR) technology to bring the testimony of the Holocaust survivor Inge to life.

Developed by Meta and StoryFile in partnership with UNESCO, the World Jewish Congress and the Claims Conference, “Tell me, Inge…” uses conversational AI (artificial intelligence), which recognizes users’ speech and enables them to engage with Inge directly, imitating a real-life interaction. To accurately represent Inge's story, the production team worked closely with Holocaust experts and oral historians.

Viewers can ask questions and listen to Inge’s answers, accompanied by animated illustrations, reliving her childhood memories, her survival during the Shoah, and her profound reflections on this experience in adulthood.

"Education about the Holocaust is crucial in combating antisemitism, racism, and conspiracy theories. As facts about the Holocaust are increasingly challenged and distorted, it is imperative to look for new ways to meaningfully engage with younger generations,” says Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education. “"Tell me, Inge" is a positive example of using new technologies to pass on the story of a Holocaust survivor. Facts about the truth of our shared history remain one of the most powerful tools to confront and overcome hatred, discrimination, and intolerance,” she adds.

On 6 June 2023 the project was presented to the German audience at Meta Public Policy Office in Berlin, Germany, where attendees, including representatives from the German Jewish communities, government officials, civil society, and academics, had the opportunity to test the XR experience and meet Inge in person.

“Tell me, Inge…” will be accessible in English and German through a dedicated website and compatible with mobile, desktop and VR glasses. As part of its commitment to education, UNESCO will provide support in developing teaching materials helping to incorporate this XR experience into lessons about the history of the Holocaust.

Born in Germany in 1934, Inge Auerbacher faced unimaginable adversities of the Holocaust as a seven-year-old girl when she and her parents were deported to the Theresienstadt ghetto. As one of the few child survivors of the ghetto, she eventually emigrated to the United States with her parents, where she battled tuberculosis for many years. In the 1980s, she attended one of the first Holocaust survivor gatherings in Israel, prompting her to share her story publicly.  She has since authored numerous books, poems, and music, dedicating herself to raising awareness among young students through her powerful speeches.