One Humanity Insitute - A City of Hope

Co-Founder of the One Humanity Institute and President and Founder of Children of the Earth, Nina Meyerhof is considered a visionary thought leader recognized for a life of advocating for children and youth. She is the co-author of “Conscious Education: The Bridge to Freedom”, and “Pioneering Spiritual Activism”. Nina also has various chapters in books on Authentic Education including “Our Moment of Choice: Evolutionary Visions and Hope for the Future”, and “Shift 2000” consisting of future-thinking luminaries.

Nina has received numerous awards for her work such as The Mother Theresa Award, the Citizens Department of Peace Award, Seeds of Peace Award, and The International Educators Award for Peace. The state of Vermont has passed a Resolution honoring her. She was awarded The Global Leadership and Lifetime Award of JAGILS and recently received the Visioneer Lifetime Achievement Award as a Heroine of Humanity.

2 million people leave the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum annually with no means to untangle their feelings or resolve the causes that led to this devastation. OHI is an opportunity to turn these feelings into positive, personal action. Our programs are designed to facilitate elimination of cultural, ethnic and religious biases and help to re-member humanity.

OHI will become one of the centers for peace in the world. It will offer NGOs and institutions a way to share their expertise collaboratively and invite guests to experience that. There will be an experiential EnVisionarium-Museum of the Future and Learning Center as well as co-working spaces, a conference center, Gardens of Reflection that will educate individuals on the techniques to create peace and sustainability in their own communities, translating into larger connections in society and government.

Over one million people were murdered in Auschwitz-Birkenau, which has been maintained exactly as it was used to remind people of NEVER AGAIN.

But then what?  How do we become a one humanity so that it never happens again?

We stand at the crossroads of crisis with the solemn need and responsibility to transform hate to hope by creating One Humanity Institute - A City of Hope, adjacent to Auschwitz-Birkenau, for building a global culture of harmony and balance.

In the next 5 years we expect 10 million people will have access to garnering solutions for problems within their own communities through our efforts. By providing a focal point for many individuals and peace organizations to bring their expertise for cultural and individual transformation together, OHI can be a highly effective Institute for initiating these changes in our world. Our goal is to ensure Never Again for anyone, that we may have equity in the world.

One Humanity Institute is a globally focused organization teaching peace and sustainability by providing a unifying structure for those already engaged in this critical work. We expect 10% of Auschwitz-Birkenau visitors to engage with OHI, experience internal change and bring their learning to their own communities.

Visitors to the City of Hope will have access to revolving exhibits,
innovative experiences, and living experiential structures for
mind-shifting. These activities are all designed for impacting self in
relationship to the world, leading to caring and acting as an advocate
for our planet by using the Sustainable Development Goals as a learning
platform. Face-to-face activities combined with technology will allow us
to build bridges across cultures, disciplines and institutions, opening new possibilities and innovative ideas.

We were gifted a building, set in the old Jewish section of Oswiecem, that was once a bakery. We wish to make it a co-working space, as well as a venue for expert lectures and workshops with the potential of re-establishing a town bakery. It was donated to us by the child of a survivor and it will be used as a launch pad piloting this project's goals and activities.

All humanity will have the opportunity to benefit from our efforts - from local community members of Oswiecim and the visitors of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp, to the global community. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet with individuals and NGOs to consider solutions for local and international problems. In the EnVisionarium they will have abilities to explore the SDGs and how they relate to their community as well as give them experiences to define commitments to themselves as individuals so that they can go home inspired to make a change.

On the International Day of Peace we will be hosting a concert in Oswiecim as well as presenting OHI to the townspeople. It will also be live-streamed over the Internet for the global arena.

We are specifically engaging the town through a survey to identify their interests and incorporate their perspectives.

We are also developing a list of universities and professors who will be invited to teach courses on peace and sustainability at the campus.

OHI strives to create a new story for the next phase of social evolution – one of mutual caring, embodying the values of peace, tolerance, acceptance, sustainability, dignity, freedom, equity and solidarity with all life. We believe these are strands that must be interwoven to create a new tapestry of human possibility. OHI will offer examples of behaving that recognize and respect our common humanity, and educating ourselves on the kinds of social structures that allow humanity to flourish in a sustainable world.

The size and scope of the project have expanded remarkably from its beginning: a park bench. Co-founder Domen Kocevar and I first wanted to address the need at Auschwitz-Birkenau for a quiet place of reflection after touring the camp six years ago. We wanted a space that could allow the impact of Auschwitz to become a lesson in itself for needing change. Then we considered a student exchange program with a local school as an avenue of furthering multicultural and inter-religious understanding. These small projects only fed our desire to expand the concept of OHI, and as our aspirations grew, so did the roadblocks in our way. But as one door closed, another opened.

The project as it stands today was made possible by one fateful, fortuitous event: The day we learned about the 11 unused barracks adjacent to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum. These structures were originally occupied by the German army during the war. Now they sit dormant. Our plan is to purchase this land or a neighboring piece, then transform the unique and symbolic space into a City of Hope. The area will contain an EnVisionarium, Learning and Research Center, NGO Hub, Library, peace gardens, conference center and hotel.

I first visited Auschwitz-Birkenau in 2015. I was invited there by a small group of women who were doing a project in Berlin based on their work in peace and sustainability. Walking through the Camp I came to the large Book of Names, a list of every murdered prisoner. Browsing through the list I discovered not only my maternal grandmother’s name but 20 other family members who had also been murdered.

During my life I have traveled to various war-torn countries. I’ve encountered all manner of suffering and misery, but seeing these names haunted me to the core. I knew then, that part of my legacy would need to include future projects that would honor not only those twenty names, nor the millions of others, but that would make a difference for the world’s future generations. After meeting Domen Kocevar, a social activist with a background in theology and sociology, I realized that Auschwitz was the impact point for the final landing site that fused all of my previous work.

I have been engaged in sustainable peace education for over 40 years with a doctorate in Education authoring books and directing school systems, working with young people in more than 100 countries. I am engaged actively with UN sponsored initiatives and NGOs, including Children of the Earth which I founded in 1990. I was also responsible for 10 schools' special education budgets for 15 years.

OHI is the culmination of my life's work, along with that of Co-Founder and visionary Doman Kocevar, because it activates peace on a global scale. OHI has attracted a global team of 45 top experts in their field and would never have been able to pay them according to their expertise without their voluntary commitment to engagement over the last five years. Our experts have created everything from museums to educational facilities to social infrastructure throughout their careers. They have managed many tens of millions of dollars of educational and institutional development work.

Five years of hard work have brought together the beginnings of this platform. As funding becomes available we will hire a CEO and CFO, as well as create a board of distinguished individuals.

Our focus is plan A with an understanding for plan B.

Originally we were told that the land that would house the City of Hope was for sale. We met with the realtor twice and the process was moving along smoothly. However, at the last moment the Polish Department of Defense pulled the land back into their jurisdiction. We then met with the governor who then was willing to work with us as an advocate to get the land. We also went to the national offices in Warsaw to meet with ministers of the Polish government. We pursued this matter up the chain until eventually getting in touch with the prime minister's staff. We were given a directive of what we would need to be considered for the property. This is a very hopeful sign as it means that it is indeed possible. The directive from the Prime Minister's office included the need for financial backing and substantive partners. We also have been offered by the mayor of the town an alternative piece of land neighboring Auschwitz-Birkenau. We work continuously from a No to a Yes, emphasizing our commitment to the project and its ideals. 

On September 11th, 2001, I was in New York for the U.N.’s International Day of Peace, meeting with then-Secretary General Kofi Annan, Jane Goodall, and other peace activists. We were about touring the peace bell at 9 am when we got news that the first plane had hit. Instead of heading for safety, I headed north to Ground Zero and immediately approached leaders of the fire brigade. I expressed the need for a space for the children directly impacted by the attacks. I was given a corner of the armory closest to Ground Zero and proceeded to create a healing center for the children. This center was supported by Mayor Giuliani, Michael Jackson, Raffi, and the Clintons. FAO Schwartz donated toys. Children of the Earth made all that possible. Following that, President Bush honored me at the White House with a National Service recognition award for her work with the children who were impacted by 9/11.

We have established two Non-profits for OHI, one in Vermont and one in Oswiecim, Poland.

Visiting the camp is a shattering experience, but also a teachable moment. We will be using all the latest technology in the EnVisionarioum, including the newest transformational education models. We will be modeling sustainability and permaculture farming techniques, showing real world examples of green solutions.

The City of Hope will act as a social impact hub, innovation lab, business incubator and community center. This is a focal point for collaboration between individuals, OHI staff and impassioned NGOs engaged in building peace.

OHI carries on the mission of the United Nations, which was formed in part because of Auschwitz-Birkenau. OHI will be looking at realistic issues on our planet in a very substantive way, adopting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a platform for change. By engaging with NGOs already involved in this work, we can jump-start the OHI impact as soon as we have basic facilities.

Most important in the OHI approach is to engage youth, so that they can learn the lessons Auschwitz and OHI has to offer. This is so they themselves will be able to create synergies in their personal lives and their communities to further the goals of peace and sustainability.

We are particularly interested in linking Universities and school programs to the Institute. We are already engaging teachers in the Polish schools in this effort, offering workshops on sustainable peace specifically targeted to them. OHI also recognizes the need to embrace the technology of youth – social media, virtual reality and AI in particular – and to integrate these modalities into our co-working accelerator programs.

OHI is a focal point to unify many other organizations who teach peace. OHI invites like-minded NGOs to join in support of this critical mission, thus leveraging the work of many sustainable-peace activists. Our team of experts illustrates the global appeal of the mission.

Each person who is transformed by interaction with OHI will in turn create transformation in their own communities - a pebble in the pool expanding impact over time.

Currently we are serving thousands of people based on the outreach we've done through Zoom/Facetime, youtube videos, conference presentations, TV/radio interviews, and a short documentary. When we obtain the land and build the site, we expect to see 10% of the 2 million visitors of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Our goal for next year is to obtain sufficient funding. Once funded, OHI will hire architects and project management staff who will plan each phase of work in more detail.

We will put a down-payment on the campus, confirm the sequence of building renovation and prepare for construction.

In addition, the test programs already in development will be offered in our recently donated "co-working" and headquarters space, a house provided by a child of an Auschwitz survivor, which will be renovated through donations.

Through the next five years we have in-depth plans for the EnVisionarium, conference center, Garden of Reflection, Research Library, hotel and restaurant. We will also engage with more specificity the universities planning to partner with OHI to provide both a flow of students and additional course offering depth and breadth.

Our intention is to create a social media campaign and develop virtual workshops online and other branding and advertising activities. We will hire individuals who could work within Israel, Poland, and the US to further our project's progress and develop inter-relationship partners, thus becoming a safe zone for the governments of these countries.

in addition, we will be forming a notable OHI Board and Wisdom Council to give us visibility and credibility, and to take over the stewardship of this project. We are also seeking a spokesperson for this project.

The most serious complexity to our success is furthering the relationship between the Polish government and the Israeli government. The legacy of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps is a painful memory for all. Our work directly engenders better communication and trust, thus addressing this barrier and liberating us to establish OHI. We believe that this project can give Poland a deeply positive reputation as standing for peace and sustainability.

We need to continue our project with substantial seed capital for initiating the next phase of development. We have a list of potential large donors but have learned that no one wants to be the first large donor. We believe that the momentum will be like the domino effect once we start receiving large funds. We have even been told that there might be several very large donors interested in putting their name on this project.

Our goal is to create a safe space which does not identify specifically with stakeholders issues yet addresses all of them, to examine how humanity can develop mutual understanding between individuals that results in peaceful resolution of conflict in local communities and between national
entities.

OHI will be an asset to the Polish government's global reputation. OHI could house meetings for governments and institutions such as a Nobel Peace Laureate, EU, and UN meetings. Furthermore we have met many political, cultural, and religious leaders from the various countries, and wish to open a mutual dialogue on how to create this space. Our intention is also to have individual content conferences, prior to building the site on educational content for each of the structures. Our experts are already addressing this.

We need the cooperation of our NGO colleagues, the Polish Government, the other governmental organizations who are already aware of our efforts, and the continued support of our friends around the globe. Our efforts will blossom only with the grass-roots engagement of our stakeholders and we must broaden and deepen those ties with every interaction. We have gathered support of many individuals and are pursuing partnerships now with organizations that have a similar vision and wish to collaborate.

OHI is committed to nurturing those connections and engaging as many additional stakeholders in this important work as our outreach efforts will address. This is a life-work for many presently engaged. 

We have lists of endorsements, friends, and experts working on our project. These individuals either are leaders in their organizations or are members of organizations. Our next goal is developing a list of partnerships. We would like to include our lists for you to review.

The Institute will have income from a variety of sources such as the guest hotel, café, bakery, leased conference center, rental of shared working offices for NGOs, museum fees, and rotating special exhibit fees. We will offer seminars, courses, trainings with certificates, as well as degree programs and international student exchange fees. Additional revenue will come from Library of Peace subscriptions for research Institutions and recurring on-line membership fees.

OHI will charge a minimal entrance fee and assumes the town will receive taxes from this. The town will be involved in the development of our business model so that it serves self-sustainability, viability for the town, and offers the global community a sliding scale to attend programs.

We have interest from the UN, the EU, various parties in Israel, as well as US-based individuals and foundations, to help us create our target $150 million endowment in addition to the MIT grant, to insure continued operations.

In addition, we have an opportunity to add $2 to $3 per ticket to the entry price to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum for every visitor, resulting in annual revenues from that source of $4mm to $6mm. Education tuition and course fees, hospitality revenue from the hotel and other sources have been identified to carry long-term operations and we are confident we will continue to build donations in addition to operational revenue.

We have raised approximately $150,000 from Children of the Earth contacts. These funds have been used for travel, think-tank meetings, marketing and other program costs over the five years.

We have records available listing all income and expenses. Below are donations exceeding $5,000 for the last five years.

Bay and Paul Foundation - $28,000.00

Michael Burak - $6,070.00

Earth Restoration Alliance - Salley Ranney - $23,000.00

Rex Maruca - $5,050.00 

Fred Matser - $8,413.00 

Ron Miller - $8,500.00

Sergey Solonin -$15,000.00 

Vermont Community Foundation - $19,800.00 

Nina Meyerhof - $10,132.23

We believe in the domino effect. Once we have a sizable amount on account to prove our credibility, we have contacts who we believe are willing to give matching grants and to support us in our future. Our contacts range from individuals participating in the Giving Pledge, to several contacted millionaire/billionaires. We also plan to have a social media campaign.

In 2020 we plan to make a down payment on the campus properties, create conferences of individual areas of concern, develop a governance board and begin offering programs and workshops.

Seed capital:
$150,000 for Business Plan, Executive and Administrative staff, legal, accounting, insurances, marketing, digital assets, conference fees, event development and execution, travel, lodging, SDG training, and general overhead costs.

2020 Expenses:
$1.6M for Oswiecim Bakery renovation for initial OHI Headquarters, Architectural planning and development and down payment for the campus.

Current in-kind donations received:

• The Bakery - a house in the town of Auschwitz-Oswiecim donated by a second-generation child survivor. Estimated value $250,000. (pre-renovation).
• An OHI shared office space in NYC and free housing space valued at $150./day.
• 45 experts willing to work on this project.

Five-year budget available upon request

Your support will activate five years of methodical planning and allow for a quantum leap in the speed of our development and roll-out. With the generosity of Solve MIT, One Humanity Institute's A City of Hope will materialize from a parcel of unused land to the initiation of city of limitless potential for changing global attitudes towards peace and sustainability. You will mark the tipping point for real change.

We've identified various barriers to our success: geo-political relations between Israel and Poland as well as the obvious need for project funding. Winning this prize would help us overcome both obstacles. Garnering the approval and trust of such a highly esteemed establishment such as MIT would add immeasurable legitimacy to our efforts to help reconcile two political entities. The funding itself will help start a groundswell of support from a list of donors poised to hop aboard at the first sign of major economic momentum.

Once we have the proper funds, we are looking to contact individual spokespeople for our project such as Michelle Obama, Pope Francis, and Rita Cosby, etc. These people will command respect and be able to enter into formal relations with institutions and with country representatives. We have met with directors of the US Holocaust Museum, the Polin Museum, the Simon Wiesenthal Institute, and individuals from Haifa University and Krakow University, and other institutions.

We are interested in global outreach and understand the sensitivities of this project. We continue to meet with individuals to assure them that this project is an opportunity to go forward from Never Again to One Humanity. Everyone we have addressed has responded positively. We are now poised to have financial underpinnings and be in discussion with government officials. We have been in discussion with the director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum who has preliminarily approved this project.

Solve MIT

European Union

Global Citizen

We Works

Save the Children

UNESCO

United States Holocaust Museum

Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum

Simon Wiesenthal centers

Polin Museum