A comprehensive resource for schools
The Erika’s Suitcase project began in 2021 and was funded through the School Library Improvement Fund. It looks at the experience of child refugees from the Kindertransport to today.
The initiative was a joint project between Harlaw Academy and Cults Academy in Aberdeen, and the Holocaust Educational Trust. S1 and S2 pupils from both schools found out about Erika Schulhof Rybeck – a young Austrian girl who came to Aberdeen as part of the Kindertransport rescue effort.
Pupils learned about Erika’s life as a refugee and researched the Kindertransport initiative. The project aimed to promote empathy and challenge pupils to look beyond divisive and sensational headlines. You can learn more about the aims and outcomes of the project on our School Library Improvement Fund Awards page.
Following the project, a website was created to enable educators in Aberdeen and across Scotland and the UK to share Erika’s story with their pupils, and to inspire them to explore links to the Kindertransport and refugees in their own communities.
The website has lots of information on Erika as well as resources covering curriculum areas such as Art, English, Music and HE. Details of the project are also available through Instagram and X.
Evidence-Led Libraries: Inspiring Innovation and Creating Communities
Scottish Library & Information Council
Annual General Meeting 2025
