To honour the International Day of Peace and soft-launch the One Humanity Bakery, an exciting and remarkable event took place in Oświęcim. The hybrid program brought together local youth, officials of Oświęcim and the global community in the spirit of One Humanity. Set outside in front of the Bakery building, using the walls as big screens, a living room studio was set up to host members of Oświęcim and to show pre-recorded messages from both local youth and international experts, as well as an art installation about the town’s peace messages and music performances.

The Mayor of Oświęcim gave an opening address and was supported by music of the renowned musicians Michael Fitzpatrick, a cellist who plays for HH the Dalai Lama, and Nigel Kennedy, the famous violinist now living in Poland.

Oświęcim youth offered live music to accompany the evening and shared about their dreams for the Bakery in the youth panel, while OHI experts offered short inputs about what One Humanity means to them. After sundown of the high holidays of RoshHashanah, a group from Jerusalem also offered their blessing and input. OHI poet Ayo Ayoola-Amale from Ghana performed a special poem, and Edith Eger, the Auschwitz survivor and author of The Choice, as well as Marian Turski, the journalist and founder of PALIN museum, offered some words to honour this special event.