Tomi Reichental is a man who unfortunately has been through a lot in his life. As a young 9 year old boy he was imprisoned in the Bergen Belsen concentration camp. He lost 35 members of his family during the Holocaust but never lost his ability to show empathy to others. Anne Frank was a fellow prisoner of Tomi’s but sadly didn’t survive.
Tomi meeting 9 year old Seán for their interview
Moving to Ireland in 1959
Despite working and living in Ireland since 1959 Tomi has only started talking about his past in recent years. He dedicates his life to visiting schools spreading his message of tolerance, empathy and compassion. His work has brought him to many countries around the world and he has had a number of documentaries made on his life. “Condemned to Remember” is his latest documentary was produced by the renowned film maker Gerry Gregg. It reflects on his life experiences during the Holocaust but also explores the very real possibility of such acts of hatred taking place in our world again.
Creating a legacy of empathy towards others
The team at “Inspiring You” was very moved by his story having met him during a recent visit to Galway. Tomi has talked to over 100,000 students in Ireland and we hope to spread his message to a greater audience.
Tomi’s interview with 9 year old Seán
Tomi was 9 when he was imprisoned and lost his childhood. 9 year old Seán met him for an interview and asked him about his life, childhood and how we can help him and others who suffer because of bullying, homelessness and racism. It made for a powerful video. Sometimes a child’s perspective adds a clear vision on issues adults tend to overthink or simply not see.
Your help is needed
In a world filled with “Fake news” and “trolls” we are providing a platform for children of all ages to engage in a safe and positive way in Tomi’s story. Our concept is simple. We want people to be more empathetic to the experiences of others. This can be your friends, family, classmates or people who have suffered through no fault of their own in the past or in present day.
What can you do for #InspiringEmpathy & #InspiringTomi?
We want children to be creative and reflective. You can write a story, poem, song or make a short video, take a photo or design a piece of art inspired by the theme of empathy or Tomi’s story.
We are passionate about You owning and controlling your content!
It is very important that young people understand how important it is to control what they post online. Instead of giving your work to others why not post it on a website or social media platform belonging to you, a parent or guardian, school or group?
You can email us through our “Contact Us” section and tell us where you have posted your #InspiringYouChallenge.
We would be delighted to share it on our website and on our social media. This will ensure that you not only get the credit for your work but you control its use online.
Why not send it directly to us?
We want you to be in control of what you post online plus #InspiringEmpathy & #InspiringTomi will spread to a greater audience if it is shared on multiple websites and social media platforms.
Together we will try and develop a more sensible and safe approach to how content is shared online.
In the words of Anne Frank “What is done cannot be undone, but one can prevent it happening again.”
#InspiringEmpathy #InspiringTomi #Inspiringyouirl #IYIRL Inspiring You In Real Life
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