Through the generosity of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry and the South Carolina Council on the Holocaust, HHCA has the unique privilege of hosting the Anne Frank: A History for Today traveling exhibit from October 30 to November 15, 2024. The exhibit enabled HHCA students and families, as well as other Bluffton-area public and private middle and high school students, to step into the world of Anne Frank and the Secret Annex and be inspired by her story.

The Anne Frank Center, located on the University of South Carolina campus, offers schools and colleges the opportunity to host the traveling exhibit. The University of South Carolina is the official U.S. partner of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and the only partner site in North America.

Molly Feldman, 8th Grade
HHCA Student Docent

Anne Frank: A History for Today brings to life the story of the young Jewish girl who - in the pages of her world-renowned diary - documented two years of hiding in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam during World War II. Through the exhibit, viewers are immersed in Anne Frank’s family life before, during, and after World War II, and they have the opportunity to trace the impact of Nazi persecution and war on one particular family. Remarkably, Anne’s diary - set against the horrors of the Nazi regime - highlights her enduring sense of hope and unwavering belief in a bright future.

In addition to gaining a deeper understanding of the Holocaust, the interactive exhibit helps visitors learn more about those who were in hiding, the helpers who supported them, and the space itself. It also encourages students to ask important questions and think critically about Anne, her family, and their experiences. 

“I still believe, in spite of everything, that people are truly good at heart. When I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more.”

- Anne Frank 

Prior to the exhibit’s opening, twenty HHCA students had the opportunity to undergo a two-day training led by Institute for Holocaust Education (IHE) staff to become docents for the exhibit.

Jessica Tatro, 8th-grade ELA mentor who worked closely with the South Carolina Council on the Holocaust to bring the exhibit to HHCA, shared "In 8th Grade ELA class we spend extensive time working with Holocaust and World War II literature. This exhibit aligns with our curriculum and helps prepare these students for their tour of the United States National Holocaust Museum when they travel to Washington DC in January." 

A "friends and family night" was held on November 6, 2024, during which HHCA parents, neighbors, and friends had the opportunity to tour the exhibit led by the trained student docents. Several commented on the wonderful job our docents did engaging the viewers and imparting knowledge. The Zwilsky family joined as guests of honor during the special event. Along with stories of their grandfather/great-grandfather, Holocaust Survivor Klaus Max Zwilsky, they shared Holocaust memorabilia and photos.

The Zwilsky Family
Eric, Max (8th Grade), Brittany, Casen (7th Grade) & Quinn (5th Grade)
Grandchildren/Great-grandchildren of Holocaust Survivor Klaus Max Zwilsky