Anne Frank Project Continues to Inspire

For Drew Kahn, professor of theater, the third annual Anne Frank Project exceeded his expectations—both in terms of content and in the passionate participation of faculty, students, and staff.“

They just came with such full hearts and were devoted to the mission of the project,” said Kahn, who serves as director of the Anne Frank Project.

Overall, approximately 5,000 people participated in the three-day conference that included a wide range of free events open to the public.

Attendees included six students Kahn met during last summer’s Semester at Sea who were fascinated with his description of the project. They came from universities as far away as California, Hawaii, and Virginia, and now want to take the idea back to their campuses and create similar projects.

“Students want to feel ownership of something, and they did with the Anne Frank Project through the dialogue, being connected live to Rwanda, and meeting Holocaust survivors,” he said. “They realized they can be part of something that is bigger than themselves. This generation is tired of just listening. They want to do something.”

Students who feel compelled to make a difference in the vein of the Anne Frank Project have many opportunities through Buffalo State.

One is a project with Our Lady of Hope Home School in inner-city Buffalo where theater students teach acting and storytelling to children ranging from preschoolers to middle school age. The school is part of St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy, which houses many of the their parents trying to get their lives back on track.

“We think of going to Africa to help people in need, but you can drive just 20 minutes away and be in a different world,” Kahn said.  

Theater students have the chance to continue to connect with Africa, too.

On October 5, theater students will participate in a three-hour live video exchange with students in Rwanda.

Kahn will also take about 10 theater students to Rwanda for a January term program. Students from each country will perform theater pieces respective to the American and Rwanda cultures, and at the end, they will create a universal play to be performed there and at Buffalo State in the future.

An information meeting for students will be held Friday, September 30, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. in the Donald Savage Theater and Communication Building's Flexible Theater.

If you missed the Anne Frank Project, several of the events are archived online.