Hannie Schaft then and now
During World War II, a young woman revolted against the German occupiers, against a Nazi regime. Hannie Schaft’s story is still very much alive and relevant for young people today. It all starts with asking yourself and your classmates questions. What do you value? What do you stand up for? What is Hannie like? To help young people empathize with Hannie’s story back then, connecting it to issues important to them today, a documentary film was made. This film connects the resistance story and motivations of a young woman back then with stories from today. Standing up for freedom and inclusivity; being there when it matters most.
Lesson module Are you like Hannie?
In September 2021, the documentary “Hoe Hannie ben jij?” premiered. Commissioned by the National Hannie Schaft Foundation, the film was made by internationally acclaimed documentary filmmaker Deborah van Dam and chronicles the final days of resistance fighter Hannie Schaft.
Since April 2022, a teaching module has been available to accompany this documentary. This module is available to all Dutch schools and can be downloaded from the Schooltv website. The documentary can also be viewed there.
Content of lessons
In collaboration with De Vreedzame School (The Peaceful School), the National Hannie Schaft Foundation considered how the film about the life and motivations of Hannie Schaft could have an impact on education. This led to the creation of a teaching module that allows teachers to reflect with students on fundamental choices to help and take action.
The module consists of three lessons that have been made available to all schools in the Netherlands.
The module begins by connecting with how children themselves have formed images of “heroes” and bravery. Then, based on the film, the connection is made with important values from our democratic constitutional state. When do we consider someone a hero? Healthcare workers during the first wave of COVID-19? Someone balancing on a tightrope between two tall buildings? Standing up for someone who is being bullied? Dedicating yourself to the environment? In this teaching module, we don’t aim to provide the answer. But we do want to raise the question: How much of a Hannie are we? It helps to become aware that we can all contribute to a free society where everyone dares to speak out and cares for others.
The first lesson
After carefully putting together the lessons, the exciting moment arrived… Groups 7 and 8 of OBS De Klopvaart were the first classes to get started with the modules, and we were allowed to watch the second lesson where the children watched the documentary.
For who
The documentary and teaching modules are suitable for children and young people between the ages of 9 and 15 and are in line with the development of active citizenship and social cohesion.
‘Hoe Hannie ben jij?’ goes abroad
The documentary film “How Are You Hannie?”, which premiered last year at the Tuschinski Theater, is touring internationally. The film was selected for film festivals in New Delhi and Toronto in the spring of 2022 and will be shown in Chicago and Wales this fall. At the latter festival, the film was nominated for four awards.
