ELŐD NÓRA (BUDAPEST)

Teacher, drama teacher, writer

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Born in 1936, Nóra Előd experienced World War II and the Holocaust as a child. She grew up in a family without men and bearing losses, and in the decades after the war, she was confronted through her own experience that anti-Semitism and political tyranny do not disappear overnight. In her life journey, the path from silence to remembrance, from personal trauma to the transfer of communal knowledge is of particular significance.

As a member of the Ariadné group, she worked with survivors and rescue workers to ensure that the history of World War II and the period of danger became an integral part of Hungarian historical memory. She maintained contact with the community of former Sztehlo children and participated in commemorations honoring the memory of Gábor Sztehlo. She also processed her experiences in her writings; in her 2017 book Hétszínvirág, she spoke about identity, survival, and post-war silence through her personal story.

Her career in drama education began after her retirement in 1994. She participated in the development of the education and examination system for drama education, and taught in several rural towns for years. She developed programs for primary and secondary school groups that were adapted to different age groups and time frames.

With her work, she served both historical memory and the self-knowledge and communication development of young people. She used drama pedagogy as a community method in which participants do not receive ready-made answers, but learn to observe, ask questions and think responsibly through their own experiences. Her commitment to her personal history and her pedagogical activity connect generations.