We launch our resources for HMD 2018 with MPs and survivors in Parliament
Today we are pleased to release a range of resources to help people of all ages and from all walks of life get involved with Holocaust Memorial Day 2018, when we will be exploring the theme: The power of words.
Holocaust and genocide survivors, the Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government, Rt. Hon Sajid Javid MP and other MPs helped to launch free resources for Holocaust Memorial Day 2018 at a reception hosted by HMDT trustees Mike Freer MP and Tulip Siddiq MP at the House of Commons earlier today.
Speaking at the event Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said:
‘History has shown us, again and again, that words can be used to cause and inspire hate, to encourage and justify violence. But that power can also be a force for good.
‘Harnessing the positive power of words is a core part of Holocaust Memorial Day and in 2018, with continued support and funding from the government, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust will be reaching out to more people, organising more events and publishing and sharing more words than ever before.’
Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of HMDT, said:
‘Today’s launch of our resources in Parliament with the Secretary of State emphasised the national significance of Holocaust Memorial Day. The HMDT team has created an array of engaging materials to help people of all ages and from all walks of life take part in Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) 2018 and explore the theme The power of words. We know every HMD activity makes a difference to what people know about the past, how they feel about today and what they do to build a better tomorrow.’
Resources launch to support HMD activity organisers include:
- A new Activity Pack – containing practical ideas for your event, a guide to this year’s theme, posters and other materials
- Resources for educators – a range of assemblies, lesson plans and activity templates for learners aged 7 to 18+. These are differentiated for varying abilities and SEN requirements, and are also suitable for informal learning groups, university students and adult learners.
- Life stories of survivors and victims of the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. We have ten new life stories for HMD 2018.
- The HMD 2018 Postcard Project – learn from the life stories of Renie Inow and Sedin Mustafić, before writing a postcard response to them. Suitable for the classroom and other HMD activity settings.
After the reception, Olivia Marks-Woldman said:
‘We were delighted that the Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government, Rt. Hon. Sajid Javid MP helped to launch our resources, and would like to thank him, Mike Freer MP and Tulip Siddiq MP. We would particularly like to thank Dr Martin Stern, a survivor of the Holocaust, who shared some of his moving experiences and powerful reflections on this year’s theme with our guests.’