Roslyn Franken's Youth Speaker Program
(available in-person or virtually)
In these times of growing division and adversity, and rising teen depression and suicide, youths everywhere need to know Roslyn Franken’s family story of survival, love and triumph over tragedy
NOW more than ever…
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By telling the story of her award-winning book, Meant to Be, about her parents' survival, love and triumph over tragedy as young adult Holocaust and atomic bomb survivors, Roslyn Franken is educating youths about the past and inspiring them toward a future of greater hope, humanity and positivity. Students leave empowered on how to better themselves, live their best lives and help make our world a better place.
"The fact that Roslyn’s parents were of the same age as our students allows the students to identify with the Frankens as real people and not just another text book statistic. Her parents' story is personal and motivational which allows our students to see the world and life's struggles in a different perspective." ~ Brent Howard, History Teacher, John McCrae High School, Ottawa, Ontario
Roslyn is known for being the first guest speaker to address the Parkland school shooting survivors of 2018. This event marked the launch of her youth speaker program in the United States. Each student received an autographed copy of her book, as approved by the school Media Specialist. Roslyn has touched the lives of thousands of students receiving standing ovations, thunderous applause, and insightful questions and comments following the presentations, as well as media attention on television, radio and in newspapers and magazines. She has spoken at schools across North America and in 2022, she made her European youth speaker debut with a presentation to over 300 students at a school in The Netherlands. This was especially meaningful as the school is in the town of Vught where the first Nazi concentration camp Roslyn's mother was taken to was located. Her presentation received media attention in Het Klaverblad Dutch newspaper. In 2023, Roslyn was the Keynote Speaker for the Florida Department of Education Healthy Schools Summer Academy focused on the development and empowerment of healthy, confident, and resilient learners. The MEANT TO BE story's meaningful themes offer much to talk about in classroom discussions with multiple lessons that apply to world history, social studies, world religions, humanities, and English classes. |
"A daughter’s moving tribute to her parents, full of heartbreak that leads to uplift."
- Kirkus Review 
"Wonderful book. Amazing story. Beautifully written..."
2022 GOLD winner of the NFAA Nonfiction Book Award 
Bulk order school and youth group purchase discounts of Roslyn's book, Meant to Be, are available upon request
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Key Learning Benefits:
Roslyn’s mother was a teen herself when at 15 she was taken by the Nazis from her home in The Netherlands to the first of 11 Holocaust concentration camps throughout Nazi Europe. She faced death in the gas chambers three times and survived. Her father was 18 when drafted into the Dutch Navy Air Force and captured by the Japanese to become a Prisoner of War. He survived the Nagasaki atomic bomb.
Roslyn also shares how when diagnosed with cancer at 29 with a tumor in her neck resting on the main artery to her brain, she turned to her parents positive attitude, resiliency and strength as inspiration in her fight to beat cancer and overcome many other life adversities. She shares the lessons learned from her parents that all teens can learn from to live their best lives, and help make our world a better place.
Roslyn provides a powerful combination of masterful storytelling with compelling audio-visual elements including family photos, video clips from an award-nominated television documentary about her parents’ story and more, adding great impact and intrigue for a highly memorable and meaningful experience for the students.
History teacher testimonial translated from Dutch to English:
"In the context of living history and an increasingly international world, we thought it would be a good idea to have Roslyn give lectures in English at our school. The fact that her mother was in Camp Vught and was then the age of the students who attended the lectures, forms a connection that our students can really imagine. Roslyn's story is full of situations that students can identify with and form an image of in their minds since they have been taken from real life. Our students were impressed by the story and listened with fascination. Because of Roslyn's calm and clear way of talking, the lectures are extremely suitable for high school students and highly recommended. The lectures were a unique experience for our students,” says Sebastiaan van Oers, History Teacher at Maurick College.
- Instills youths with greater hope, resiliency, self-worth, purpose, positive outlook, appreciation, and many more much needed positive values
- Boosts their awareness, compassion and empathy for the experiences of victims and survivors of the Holocaust in Europe and the Pacific War in Asia
- Deepens their understanding of what the kinds of hate, discrimination, bullying and evil people like her parents experienced in the past can lead to if we don't stop it.
- Encourages them toward a greater spirit of tolerance, acceptance, respect and community regardless of differences in race, religion, ethnicity, and anything else that differentiates us.
Roslyn’s mother was a teen herself when at 15 she was taken by the Nazis from her home in The Netherlands to the first of 11 Holocaust concentration camps throughout Nazi Europe. She faced death in the gas chambers three times and survived. Her father was 18 when drafted into the Dutch Navy Air Force and captured by the Japanese to become a Prisoner of War. He survived the Nagasaki atomic bomb.
Roslyn also shares how when diagnosed with cancer at 29 with a tumor in her neck resting on the main artery to her brain, she turned to her parents positive attitude, resiliency and strength as inspiration in her fight to beat cancer and overcome many other life adversities. She shares the lessons learned from her parents that all teens can learn from to live their best lives, and help make our world a better place.
Roslyn provides a powerful combination of masterful storytelling with compelling audio-visual elements including family photos, video clips from an award-nominated television documentary about her parents’ story and more, adding great impact and intrigue for a highly memorable and meaningful experience for the students.
History teacher testimonial translated from Dutch to English:
"In the context of living history and an increasingly international world, we thought it would be a good idea to have Roslyn give lectures in English at our school. The fact that her mother was in Camp Vught and was then the age of the students who attended the lectures, forms a connection that our students can really imagine. Roslyn's story is full of situations that students can identify with and form an image of in their minds since they have been taken from real life. Our students were impressed by the story and listened with fascination. Because of Roslyn's calm and clear way of talking, the lectures are extremely suitable for high school students and highly recommended. The lectures were a unique experience for our students,” says Sebastiaan van Oers, History Teacher at Maurick College.
Why youths love Roslyn's book and presentation
Roslyn teaches youths how they can follow in her parents’ footsteps by approaching their own life’s struggles with the same faith and fortitude instead of constant fear, daring and determination instead of constant doubt and despair, and same positivity, hope and perseverance instead of the poor me and self-pity attitude that can paralyze them from recognizing and reaching their fullest potential.
Her parents’ story was the subject of a CBC Gemini award-nominated television documentary and Roslyn’s book, Meant to Be, is currently in development for production as a feature-length motion picture.
What teens are saying about Roslyn's presentation...
Springstead High School tenth grader, Abby Marks commented, “I think this was an amazing story. Growing up I heard a lot about WWII. It’s amazing that two people could experience such horrible conditions and they come out of it with such positive attitudes
about life.”
André Brooks a ninth-grade student at Springstead remarked, “It’s a very inspirational story about courage, how you’re put in the worst conditions and you still make it through.”
Tenth Grader at St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School commented, I appreciate how Roslyn is reaching out to kids our generation and inspiring us and telling us all about these different things…I appreciate the fact that she’s not sugar-coating anything and she’s actually educating us and she’s making a great impact on us.”
Tenth Grader at St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School said, "This really inspired me to fight for my goals, and to never give up, and just to keep going and to do well in school and never give up on my dreams, and even if I go through bad stuff, it’s just that there’s always hope in life.”
Ninth-grader at John McRae High School said, "It’s important for youths to know this story because we often feel bad for ourselves for having to write two tests in one day or complain about getting up early to go to school, but there are so many things for us to be thankful for.”
Another high school student observed, “You are one of the most inspirational speakers I’ve heard. Audiences around the world – kids, adults, adolescents have to hear your story and understand that every day that you get up and you have your health and you have your freedom is a blessing.”
Ruby Silver, a Senior at Springstead, remarked, “I think it’s important that we keep sharing these stories and we keep addressing that this happened, but that we also keep showing that there are positive things that came out of it. That we just don’t address the negative.”
Her parents’ story was the subject of a CBC Gemini award-nominated television documentary and Roslyn’s book, Meant to Be, is currently in development for production as a feature-length motion picture.
What teens are saying about Roslyn's presentation...
Springstead High School tenth grader, Abby Marks commented, “I think this was an amazing story. Growing up I heard a lot about WWII. It’s amazing that two people could experience such horrible conditions and they come out of it with such positive attitudes
about life.”
André Brooks a ninth-grade student at Springstead remarked, “It’s a very inspirational story about courage, how you’re put in the worst conditions and you still make it through.”
Tenth Grader at St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School commented, I appreciate how Roslyn is reaching out to kids our generation and inspiring us and telling us all about these different things…I appreciate the fact that she’s not sugar-coating anything and she’s actually educating us and she’s making a great impact on us.”
Tenth Grader at St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School said, "This really inspired me to fight for my goals, and to never give up, and just to keep going and to do well in school and never give up on my dreams, and even if I go through bad stuff, it’s just that there’s always hope in life.”
Ninth-grader at John McRae High School said, "It’s important for youths to know this story because we often feel bad for ourselves for having to write two tests in one day or complain about getting up early to go to school, but there are so many things for us to be thankful for.”
Another high school student observed, “You are one of the most inspirational speakers I’ve heard. Audiences around the world – kids, adults, adolescents have to hear your story and understand that every day that you get up and you have your health and you have your freedom is a blessing.”
Ruby Silver, a Senior at Springstead, remarked, “I think it’s important that we keep sharing these stories and we keep addressing that this happened, but that we also keep showing that there are positive things that came out of it. That we just don’t address the negative.”
Roslyn took her message of hope and perseverance to the class in Parkland, Florida, shot into by gunman killing 17 people...
“It was just an incredible story of perseverance that really serves as an example for our students who have experienced so much tragedy this past 2 months. So, it was really special to have Roslyn here speaking to our students sharing her story and not just of how her parents got through the war and afterwards, but just the inspiration to do the right thing, to continue on in the face of tragedy, in the face of cancer and to just live life to the fullest with everything they’re given. It was an incredible experience for
the students, for myself and for my colleague, Ivy Schamis, and for anybody else who gets the opportunity to hear her story, to hear her parents’ story, please take that opportunity.”
~ Darren Levine, English Teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL
"Roslyn was able to bring such a positive experience to my students as they were feeling so down about everything. She not only spoke about her parents’ wartime experiences but also about their positive outlook on life. She brought so much brightness and hope to the students and just watching the way they were watching her when she spoke was just amazing.”
~ Ivy Schamis, Educator at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL
With the support and generosity of private donors, Roslyn was able to travel to Parkland to deliver her presentation and give an autographed copy of her book, as approved by the school Media Specialist, to each of the students. As Roslyn's book is being made into a movie, the students were especially excited to receive a signed copy of her book to keep.
the students, for myself and for my colleague, Ivy Schamis, and for anybody else who gets the opportunity to hear her story, to hear her parents’ story, please take that opportunity.”
~ Darren Levine, English Teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL
"Roslyn was able to bring such a positive experience to my students as they were feeling so down about everything. She not only spoke about her parents’ wartime experiences but also about their positive outlook on life. She brought so much brightness and hope to the students and just watching the way they were watching her when she spoke was just amazing.”
~ Ivy Schamis, Educator at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL
With the support and generosity of private donors, Roslyn was able to travel to Parkland to deliver her presentation and give an autographed copy of her book, as approved by the school Media Specialist, to each of the students. As Roslyn's book is being made into a movie, the students were especially excited to receive a signed copy of her book to keep.
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Roslyn on Spectrum Bay News 9 Television
Woman Inspires Kids With Parents' Story of Perseverance Over Hate |
Click HERE for news report on Bay News 9 website
Students give Roslyn standing ovation
at Springstead Theatre
"What a wonderful meaningful presentation to our great students, teachers, administrators, and staff."
~ Linda Prescott, District 2 representative on the Hernando County School Board Board of Education in Florida.
~ Linda Prescott, District 2 representative on the Hernando County School Board Board of Education in Florida.
Roslyn educates and inspires School District Administrators, Mental Health Coordinators, Curriculum Specialists, School Counselors and Teachers at the FDOE Healthy Schools Summer Academy
"Thank you, Roslyn Franken, for sharing your parents’ phenomenal story of resilience in the face of adversity endured during the Holocaust and World War II, at our 2023 Healthy Schools Summer Academy. Your ability to educate and inspire the audience was impactful, as their journey from initial persecution, separation, and eventual reunion, were brought to life before our eyes. The passionate recount of history, connection of your parents’ experiences to the present day, and the importance of promoting perseverance, empathy, and resiliency was thought-provoking for our team of educators. We appreciate you sharing your triumph of becoming a young cancer survivor, as well as the significance of healthy eating and positivity. You culminated your speech with the power of showing gratitude, despite your family’s circumstance, considering it was Meant to Be. Thank you again for sharing your parents John and Sonja Franken’s story, in an engaging keynote speech, with our Healthy Schools Summer Academy attendees."
~ Healthy Schools Team, Bureau of Standards and Instructional Support, Florida Department of Education
~ Healthy Schools Team, Bureau of Standards and Instructional Support, Florida Department of Education
Roslyn educates and inspires Parents, Teachers and Students as Keynote Speaker for Pinellas County Council Parent Teacher and Student Association Event...
"What Roslyn taught us was that childhood/adult trauma and suffering does not provide us with an excuse for our problems. We must use the insights and lessons learned to refocus on the good so that we free ourselves from the harm. What a wonderful message, spoken by such a unique, and humble person as Roslyn Franken. I thank Roslyn for sharing her inspirational story and reminding us of why we advocate and volunteer for the children."
~ Lawrence Clermont, President, Pinellas County Council PTSA (Parent Teacher & Student Association)
~ Lawrence Clermont, President, Pinellas County Council PTSA (Parent Teacher & Student Association)
Video Testimonials and speaker clips...
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Camille Jowanna, Principal
Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School. |
Richard Crowley, Dean
Lecanto High School |
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Courtney Flournoy & Kim Fennewald
Teachers at Belleview Middle School |
Brenda Hankin & students
Hollins High School |
What school principals, teachers and staff are saying...
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“Roslyn's gripping story of her parents’ life during World War II was so powerful, you felt like you were in World War II yourself. Her parents were prisoners of war and lived through the most horrific conditions, along with the inhumane treatment they suffered. For a full hour, six hundred high school students and twenty-five adults were sitting on the edge of their seats waiting on ever word from Ms. Franken. This was such a powerful presentation that students were talking about this presentation for hours later! I have no hesitation in recommending Ms. Roslyn Franken’s heartfelt presentation to any organization. This presentation will touch every heart, young and old. I wish Ms. Roslyn Franken all the best of luck in her future endeavors!”
~ Carmine Rufa, Principal, F.W. Springstead High School in Spring Hill, FL |
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"Roslyn did an outstanding presentation today for Belleview Middle School. This is the time of year when our students start to make questionable choices and get a little scared about their future, where they're going and what types of decisions they have to make. This presentation couldn't have come at a more perfect time. And to have 300 8th graders sit for more than 10 minutes absolutely quiet, engaged and focused where nobody had to be removed or talked to, and with extra staff in place for supervision, you could hear a pin drop."
~ Kim Fennewald, teacher at Belleview Middle School, Belleview, FL |
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"Roslyn Franken came to our school and spoke about her book “Meant To Be” to a diverse audience of around three hundred 7th – 12th grade students, and she was excellent! Roslyn’s story-telling ability kept the students’ attention for a full 45 minutes, and kept them wanting to hear more at every turn. This allowed her to reach them with her timely and important core message: that we each have tremendous power over our lives, that we can each choose our reactions to every situation we are in, that we are not at all powerless. Roslyn’s message of empowerment included our outlook toward others as well as our outlook toward ourselves. After sharing her parents’ story, she urged us all to “remember what the power of hate and discrimination can lead to if we don’t stop it.” After all, we share our time on this small planet with each other, and we owe it to ourselves and our world to treat each other with dignity and respect. That’s a great message for the students of today, and Roslyn was a great messenger who wove story into meaning. I recommend her with sincere enthusiasm."
~ Mark Keller, Head Master, Academy at the Lakes High School in Land O'Lakes, FL |
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"As soon as Roslyn took to the stage and began to speak, the students were mesmerized. There was not a single whisper among any of them, and at the end there was eager applause, and several inspired questions were asked. Roslyn spoke with incredible grace, confidence and poise. She told the story of her parents in such a way that it affected the entire audience. We were all experiencing the story with her as she told it, and it was clear at the end that the students wanted to know more, about her and her past...I highly recommend Roslyn as a speaker, for not only is she charismatic and captivating, she carries with her an incredible spirit and sense of hope and optimism that is undeniable and infectious. I could feel her wisdom staying with the students, and I think they all left the school that day a little bit more open-minded and aware."
~ Stephanie Trapid, School Librarian, Bialik High School, Montreal, Canada |
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"I just saw an amazing presentation by Roslyn Franken to our Grade 10s and 11s at St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School. She gave two sides of World War II including the Japanese invasion as well as the Nazi invasion in Europe because her father was a Prisoner of War in Japan and her mother lived through all the cruelties of Auschwitz.
What was amazing is how well she connected with the students and how she touched them with her speaking. It’s amazing not only how her parents went through so many obstacles and so many difficulties and so many times where they both could have perished, but how they managed to survive through all these hardships and unimaginable cruelty. The way it’s presented with the PowerPoint and the way Roslyn speaks to the students is very attractive and also very easy to understand. I would, therefore, highly recommend that as a teacher of religion or history, this is an amazing presentation to have her come and give for your students as well. Thank you very much, Roslyn." ~ Thomas Baars, Department Head of Religion, St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School |
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"Roslyn is a gifted speaker with a powerful story to tell. Roslyn seamlessly integrates various media in her presentation to keep the audiences' interest. The stories that form the basis of Meant to Be need to be shared widely. As a diversity educator, I cannot overstate the importance of telling stories of WWII and the Holocaust from a personal perspective. Understanding these stories from a personal perspective provides the audience an opportunity to understand these historical world events in deeper manner. Roslyn does this expertly when telling the stories of her parents. Roslyn's presentation gives young people a sense empowerment and hope to face the challenges of life today all while reminding them of a time in our history that must not be repeated. I highly recommend Roslyn as a speaker."
~ Shawn Pentecost, Diversity Educator, Algonquin College in Pembroke, Ontario |
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"We had the pleasure of having Roslyn Franken at our school to speak to our students. I highly recommend her presentation to schools everywhere. Roslyn tells a beautiful, inspirational story of her family and it will be a great opportunity to have her at your school, as well,"
~ Camille Jowanna, Principal at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Pasco County, FL |
"If you believe as I do, that our youths are starving for hope, inspiration and positive role models they can aspire to, I invite you to contact me to discuss how we can work together to educate and inspire your students or youth group.”
~ Roslyn Franken
Here's what high school students have said when asked "What are some of the things you learned from Roslyn's presentation that had the most impact on you?"
The youths of today are our future so please support Roslyn's efforts by sharing this page with anyone you know in the school system in your area who can help her get these learning benefits to more young people. With the power of Zoom, it is that much easier now for Roslyn to deliver my presentation worldwide.
- I learned how amazing it was for her parents to survive and flourish through that terrible time. It really inspired me and showed me that what happens, happens for a reason.
- I knew it was very intense, but I didn't realize the big masses of death that there was.
- The fact that they met each other even though they both could have died. Your mom's courage and optimism.
- that someone had the courage to go through all her parents had, her mother was still brave and was proud of her.
- that no matter what happens you can still make it through. Also that things happen for a reason.
- I did not know how many people had actually died and how terrifying it was until she told us the point of view of her parents.
- The fact that two people that survived history's worst could survive and thrive afterwards
- I learned that there is always hope, even if it's not obvious.
- Her parents had overcome so many obstacles and were still able to find happiness.
- That her mom survived three different camps. I learned how her mom was so brave and that she took risks to save other people.
- How they met each other after the Holocaust.
- That hope really matters.
- The toughness of her parents.
- That some things are really just meant to be, that people can be so brave.
- That they escaped death many times.
- She inspired me to ask my grandparents and parents about their history.
- It was neat to hear about how her parents did not lose hope the entire time they were in those situations.
- How many different camps that people got transferred to. It was also so eye opening hearing personal stories of things that happened to your parents. It made everything feel more real.
- That fate and miracles do exist.
- I learned that there are things that are just meant to happen like her parents who were meant to be.
- That life back then was not all sunshine and rainbows. They went through hardships for no reason at all. People kill people.
- That anything can happen in your life.
- The part where they didn't stop believing and they went through a lot and still got out and met.
- I learned that your life can be changed forever just because of something very simple.
- I learned that our experiences should not define us.
- No matter what you've been through there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
- To put things in perspective. People should be grateful for what they have. A lot that we complain about is selfish because our lives are so much easier than the struggles of the others that were our age back then.
The youths of today are our future so please support Roslyn's efforts by sharing this page with anyone you know in the school system in your area who can help her get these learning benefits to more young people. With the power of Zoom, it is that much easier now for Roslyn to deliver my presentation worldwide.
Roslyn is an active member of the Florida School Counselors Association
Donate to Roslyn's Student & Youth Speaking Tour
Help Roslyn speak at more schools and youth organizations and get copies of her book into their hands. On behalf of all the students and youths who will learn about the past and be inspired toward the future by Roslyn's presentation because of your donation, we thank you! Donations are not tax-deductible. Donations will appear on your credit card statement under name, RF Productions LLC. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are also available upon request.