In May 2015, I was privileged to attend a trip that altered my life in many ways. I was very nervous in the beginning of my trip with MRH, as I have read so much historical context about the Holocaust and watched numerous documentaries, but nothing can prepare you for the degree of emotions that emanate through this trip. I tried to prepare myself for this journey in many ways, and I was Leary of travelling with a group of people that I barely knew. Later I realized how I became very connected with these individuals because we all had a common goal of learning more about humanity and ourselves. The relationships that I have gained through MRH are so precious and I am grateful for everything I learned from my companions during this journey. We all displayed compassion and empathy towards each other and this provided hope for the future. MRH has shown me the strength of the human spirit and how an individual can transcend past the barriers of human existence, by looking beyond themselves.
My faith was rewarded when I travelled with MRH and I was given vigour to educate students about important topics, and the psychological ramifications of being in an environment of abuse. As an educator I can support critical thinking about Holocaust education. I can facilitate classes to recognize psychological and sociological aspects of the Holocaust. My empathy has given me humility, and Through MRH I become a better educator. I am truly blessed as an educator and law enforcement officer to have attended such a profound trip. This experience has helped me understand the capacity of cruelty that humankind is a capable of. Although there were many horrific stories, I also perceived the strength of the human spirit through the inspirational stories of survival.
Victor is a MRH 2015 alum and has a background in education, social work, and law enforcement. He has experience working with indigenous and various visible minority youth groups.