Sara Stewart (16)
When asked to go on a one-day visit to Auschwitz in Poland I said yes after studying History in school and being horrified by, but interested in, the Holocaust.
Before the trip a seminar was held to help prepare us and introduce the groups. However even after this I was still completely unprepared.
Auschwitz 1 was almost like a museum; lots of people observing and objects held behind glass, it felt distant.
Although there is no denying the horror and shock that comes from seeing the roomfuls of hair, suitcases and shoes of those who lost their lives.
Birkenau was a complete contrast to Auschwitz 1 and I found it much more difficult.
It was almost silent and there were far less people. From the watchtower at the entrance you could see just how vast it was. It gave us space to think and what really hit me was, despite the many thousands of inmates, how lonely the place must have been and how I don't think I could have survived.
At the end of the day there was an incredible ceremony after which we placed candles on the rail tracks and walked silently beside the tracks and out of Birkenau in respect.
On returning home and even at the follow-up seminar, I have found it very difficult to talk about the experience, because I am still so overwhelmed by it.
I will never forget this trip and hope to do all I can to spread the messages about Auschwitz.

Erin Cunningham (17)
Extermination. Typically a word used to describe the killing of small rodents or insects.
But, a mass extermination of people?
The dehumanisation of prisoners at Auschwitz was apparent as soon as we walked through the famous gates stating "arbeit macht frei" – work makes us free.
I was shocked at the fact the prisoners were made to call each other by their number tattooed on their forearms.
But still, amidst the dehumanisation, the Holocaust was made personal to me.
It seemed that within the massive scale of the camp there were real people, individuals, teenagers, families.
Displaying photos of those killed at the remains of the gas chambers was an extremely touching way of bringing the tragedy of the Holocaust close to home.
Seeing a Nazi map with the number of Jews in Britain pinpointed was particularly thought-provoking.
Would we, if the Nazis had invaded Britain, like those across Europe had, also have had to drive the buses and trains heading to the death camps and stand by as millions were killed?
I have frequently asked myself since, how the prisoners, through the terror and brutality that the Nazis imposed, managed to keep the faith and strength of character required to fight for survival — in the hope that they would get out and reveal to the world the atrocities that took place at Auschwitz.

• A hearfelt end - Tanya Scoon tells of tell of the moving memorial service. Full story in Thursdays's Fife Free Press.