The Children of Willesden Lane

The Children of Willesden Lane tells the true story of Golabek’s mother, then-14-year-old Lisa Jura, an aspiring pianist whose parents sent her from Vienna to London via the Kindertransport in 1938. Jura spent the war at 243 Willesden Lane, a group home for young Jewish refugees, and continued to play the piano to fulfill her mother’s last words to her, to “hold on to [her] music” even during the darkest of times.

Explore Resources Below

Educator and Family Activities

Testimony and Artistic Expression

In this lesson, students will develop a greater understanding of the link between testimony and artistic expression. By analyzing excerpts from The Children of Willesden Lane and pieces of artistic expression from genocide survivors, students will build upon their sense of empathy, historical understanding, and discipline-specific literacies. Throughout the lesson, students will analyze clips of testimony and different forms of artistic expression through the lens of perseverance and resilience.

Middle and High School Activity

The Jewish Refugee Crisis of the 1930s

Through this activity students will analyze accounts of Jewish refugees who attempted to flee Nazi territories between 1933 and the beginning of World War II. Students engage in discussion to understand challenges that may have been presented to refugees. After brainstorming policies and programs that could have minimized these challenges, students will analyze international agreements written after World War II to protect refugees and how these efforts affected their lives.

Middle School Activity

Confronting Refugee Challenges

Designed for middle and high school students, this classroom activity guides students through why some people are forced to flee from their homes to seek safety from persecution and genocide. They will analyze a variety of sources to document challenges confronted by refugees and dive deeper into what assistance and support was made available to refugees.

Middle School Activity

The Sound of Willesden Lane

In this activity, families will explore the story of Lisa Jura, a talented young musician who dreams of becoming a concert pianist. Through her story, families will build on their understanding of the Kindertransport and work with their students to dive into the concepts of perseverance and resilience. Together families will deepen the connection between music and testimony.

Family Activity

Listen to Mona play the piano

Track 3 Track 5 Track 8

Supporting Testimony Clips

Abdul Karim

Adbul recalls the beginning of violence against Rohingya in Rakhine.
Anonymous Testimony (South Sudan Refugee Crisis)

A survivor of the South Sudan civil war describes her life working for a non-governmental organization before the outbreak of war, explains why she was fled to Uganda during the war, and describes life in a refugee camp.
Elise Taft (Lesson Plan Testimony)

Elise emphasizes the importance of writing about genocide based on her experience as a survivor of the Armenian Genocide.
Hansu Mala

Hansu recalls anti-Rohingya attitudes prior to the mass violence of 2017.
Jamela Khatun (Family Activity Testimony)

Jamela explains her multiple displacements and how events have impacted her and her family.

Judith Goldstein (Lesson Plan Testimony)

Judith recounts songs she learned while living in the ghetto during the Holocaust.
Nurusseher

Nurusseher describes the journey to the refugee camp.
Shafike Begum

Shafike describes life in the refugee camp and the possibility of return to Myanmar.
Shirin Mustafa

Shirin describes challenges faced by her internally displaced family.
Wasy Mustafa Moshe

Wasy describes his family’s decision to flee Kurdistan in response to air attacks on his hometown.
Yehudah Bakon (Lesson Plan Testimony)

Yehudah draws on reflections from his time in the concentration camps during the Holocaust.

The Children of Willesden Lane