Revolutionising Holocaust education
Testimony 360 is one of our most ambitious and important projects to date. Created for the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET), this VR educational programme tells the stories of two Holocaust survivors, Manfred and Susan – telling their stories as we learn not only how their lives were upended and irrevocably marked by the catastrophic persecution of Jews of Europe by the Nazi regime, but also how they survived.
The challenge
The HET had a clear vision: a VR educational tool that would preserve and share first-hand survivor testimony for future generations. The experience needed to combine authentic Holocaust sites with deeply personal stories, contextualising history through the voices of those who lived it. Crucially, the tool had to work seamlessly in schools – delivered across 35 VR headsets under teacher control, with the ability to pause for reflection and discussion. The challenge was to design a solution that balanced historical authenticity, emotional resonance, and classroom practicality while safeguarding testimonies for years to come.
The process
To bring the vision to life, we travelled across Europe to capture significant Holocaust locations – some public, some restricted, some long since changed – in 360° film. Survivors’ stories were recorded in intimate settings, alongside photogrammetry of artefacts for authenticity.
In post-production we wove these into a chaptered narrative enriched with documents, photographs and 6DOF 3D hotspots, enabling students to interact with memorials, artefacts and spaces. Alongside the VR app, we built a synchronised tablet version for teachers to guide sessions and for schools without headsets, ensuring the programme remained accessible, immersive and adaptable to classroom needs.
The outcome
Launched in June 2024, Testimony 360 has already reached 1,652 pupils through 60 sessions across 395 applications in schools nationwide. Built for Pico 3 headsets with tablet control, it delivers powerful, shared classroom experiences that combine survivor testimony with authentic Holocaust sites and artefacts. Tech Times described it as offering “a visceral connection to history,” supplementing textbooks with emotional and spatial understanding. More than just a VR experience, it stands as a lasting digital archive of survivors’ voices, ensuring remembrance, honour and education for the future.
Testimony 360 sponsored by The Eyal & Marilyn Ofer Family Foundation in partnership with the Holocaust Educational Trust and the USC Shoah Foundation.
“Never during those dark days of the Holocaust did I ever imagine that one day I would see myself, and my story, immortalised in this way. I have spoken to thousands of pupils over the years – perhaps now I will make it millions. If this is my legacy, it will be a truly remarkable one.”
“Testimony 360 is an incredible programme. It uses advanced technologies to allow students not just to hear Manfred’s testimony but to ask him questions. To interact with him. Now of course, it will never quite be the same as meeting a survivor in person. But what a way to preserve survivor testimony. And what a way to engage young people at such a critical moment.”
“This has completely changed the way I view and think about the Holocaust, and life generally. It made the history seem more real, and like Manfred said, the personal nature of the testimony put into perspective the scale and true horrific nature of the Holocaust.”
“VR is pivotal in transporting students to sites integral to survivors’ narratives… This immersive approach provides a visceral connection to history, supplementing textbook knowledge with a deeper emotional and spatial understanding.”
“I think this is revolutionary, not just in terms of Holocaust education but in terms of history education and education generally… the buzz in the classroom, it’s just really hard to describe how fantastic it is.”
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