March of Remembrance and Hope Canada

Don't see an answer to your logistical, financial, etc. question about the trip below? Contact us today! 

Cost

The March of Remembrance and Hope is a partially subsidized program. The amount of subsidy varies and is dependent on demonstrated need. Actual cost for Canadian participants is $4,000 USD. Most participants pay between $815 and $1200 USD. Please see the online application for subsidy information. Student contribution is determined during the application and interview processes.

You may be contacted by MRH staff to discuss your participation in the program and your financial needs. No applicant will be turned away for financial considerations.

Cost covers expenses in Toronto, Germany, and Poland, and return airfare from Toronto to Europe. Travel expenses within Canada are not covered, but limited financial assistance is available. Please see online application for further details.

Dates

The dates for the 2020 March of Remembrance and Hope program are: May 7-17, 2023.  

See Some Of Our Frequently Asked Questions Below

Q: What are the dates of the program?

The dates of the next program are May 7-17, 2023.

Q: How long is the program? 

a. The program is 10 days, beginning with the orientation in Toronto (1 overnight at an airport hotel, followed by an overnight flight to Europe, 2 days in Berlin, 6 days in Poland, and one final day in transit back to Toronto. 

Q: What is the deadline for application:

a. The deadline for applications for the 2023 program is February 20, 2023.

Q: Do I need to provide references?

a. Yes, 2 references are required. One must be a faculty member at the university or college you attend, the other may be a faculty member or an individual who can attest to your leadership and commitment through paid or volunteer work. They will be sent a link to an online confidential reference form.

Q: I don’t live in the Toronto area. Is my travel to Toronto covered by the program fee?

a. No. The program fee includes International round trip air transportation Toronto to Germany, returning Warsaw to Toronto; Land travel in Germany and Poland, including airport transfers for group to and from hotel; Hotel accommodations based on shared rooms; Entrance fees to sites; Some meals (all breakfasts, some lunches and dinners).

If you live outside of the GTA, you are expected to make your own arrangements to get to Toronto for the orientation and international flight. Some subsidies are available to assist with airfares for those coming from a distance. 

Q: What is not included in the program fee?

a. The program fee does not include the following:

• Medical insurance for overseas travel (mandatory)

• Round trip travel to/from Toronto. Limited financial assistance may be available

• Tips for guides and drivers ($50 USD per person; USD bills required)

• Visa to Poland, if required (Note: Canadian citizens do not require a visa)

• Excess baggage charges if applicable (we encourage packing light! You will be carrying your own luggage in and out of hotels, onto the bus, etc.)

• Some meals

• Alcoholic or specially ordered beverages with meals, laundry charges, telephone and room service charges, and other items of a purely personal nature

• Any deviations from the program group flights

Q: Can I extend my trip if I wish to stay in Europe after the program?

a. Unfortunately MRH Canada is unable to offer deviations (i.e.: extensions) on the group flights. 

Q: I have special dietary restrictions. Can they be accommodated?

MRH Canada is able to offer vegetarian, vegan, lactose-free and gluten-free options while in Germany and Poland. Please discuss any other special needs with staff.

Q: Do participants to need to be Jewish or of Jewish heritage?

This is not a Jewish trip. Although parts of the experience celebrate Jewish traditions, the invites participants from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. When in Birkenau, participants are invited to participate in the memorial session and share something from their personal cultural or faith perspective. Knowing that the Jewish community was not able to practice their faith when under persecution, there is something truly special about being able to share in Shabbat dinner and other traditions in their honour.

Q: I don’t know much about history and I am not a history student. Can I still participate?

Absolutely! This experience is designed to allow all disciplines a chance to learn and explore. Although some participants may come from a history background, the strength of the group comes from the diversity of perspectives. The webinars held prior to the trip ensures that all participants have enough background information. 

Q: What is it like to travel with a survivor? Will they tell stories and be open to questions?

Traveling with a survivor is such an incredible experience, one that does not come often. It is scary that we might be the last ones to hear their stories first hand, you feel truly honoured to be in their presence. Being able to visit memorials and camps with a survivor and hear their stories first hand is a unique and powerful experience. Participants are encouraged to connect with their survivor in honest and open ways. Survivors who travel with the program want to share their stories and are very willing to answer just about any questions.

Q: When you get back from the trip what do you need to do as a participant?

What each participant does upon return will depend upon the individual. Everyone is encouraged to explore ways that they are comfortable sharing their experience; to find a way to let others learn about MRH and to start conversations about what is happening in our world today. With 30+ other participants in each cohort, there are so many people to bounce ideas off of and work with.

Q: Don't you cry all the time?

Although it is an emotional experience, the way people react can be very different. What makes one person cry may leave another another feeling numb. In fact, some people may not cry at all, and that is ok. Crying does not equal experience or impact. We all deal with things differently and it may not really resonate with someone until they return.

Q: Is the trip sad all the time?

No, a lot of the participants become very close through their experiences and will often go out together in the evening which brings them closer. Although there are moments when people may feel sad, there are also many moments where laughter and smiles are shared!

Q: Why would you go on a trip like this?

Why not? It is so important to have difficult conversations and to bear witness to our history. In our world today, hatred and genocide still occurs. As young leaders we need to be the voice of change. Hate can do so much damage to a community and understanding this through the Holocaust puts things into perspective.

Q: What is the most impactful part of the trip?

This can be different for everyone, what may be the most impactful for one may not be for someone else. Moments when a participant finds themselves reflecting on their own lived experience and recognizing the magnitude of destruction that occurred within Poland often serve as the primary moments of impact. Each participant needs to be open minded and to bring their full self to the experience. By doing so they allow themselves to take away as much as they can from this journey.

Q: What's it like being in Auschwitz?

When visiting this iconic site, it is important to remember that we are not in Auschwitz, the place of such suffering and horror, we are merely visiting and bearing witness. Knowing you are standing on the grounds where more than a million people were murdered is unsettling. This can be said about all the camps that the group visits. Although each location looks different, the impact of the actions that took place is the same. Auschwitz I is a museum, Auschwitz II—Birkenau is a vast memorial site. Our leaders and our guides are able to share with the group an understanding of where they are and what happened there historically, and to help us work through our impressions and emotions.

Q: Cost is a challenge for me. Are there options for financial assistance?

When applying to the program one of the questions asked of you is what you are able to pay. All applicants are eligible for financial assistance. Please refer to Section VII of the application form for detailed information. Please click here for the 2023 application form. All those accepted will be required to submit a registration form as well.