20 of our students have been training to become peer guides over the past few months with the Anne Frank Trust. Keziah and Molly have helped our students teach the story of Anne Frank to different year groups and primary school children. Mrs Fletcher’s art classes have made work for the Holocaust memorial. The work has been up on display in Asda for the whole of January. To see some images please take a look and like the Asda Bolton Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/asdabolton/
After the peer guide training the students were asked if they wanted to apply to become Anne Frank Ambassadors. Only two students were selected for this role. They are the first students to ever be selected outside of London to present at the Hilton Hotel. They have found the experience really empowering and Umama and Maria wanted to write an account of their journey to London on Thursday 23rd January, below is their account.
We were invited to go to the Hilton Hotel. We took the train down to London so we could attend the annual Anne Frank lunch and present speeches to guest which included Lords, Ladies and dignitaries. When we arrived at the venue we felt very privileged to meet some very supportive people from the Anne Frank Trust. They helped us prepare and rehearse our speeches. We listened to a speech by one of the trustees Daniel Mendosa. He talked about the importance of continuing to share the story of Anne Frank and the Holocaust. He expressed his feelings that there is still a need to stop discrimination. After his speech we were treated to a 3 course meal. Throughout the meal we listened to more speeches. It soon became our turn to present. We both felt very nervous when we were on stage but they soon went away as we were very passionate about what we were saying. The speeches were well received. There was a huge applause from a crowd of 400 guests. One by one people came over to myself and Umama to say well done. They were really proud of us. Here are two quotes from our speeches.
‘How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment, we can start now, start slowly changing the world! How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution toward introducing justice straightaway… And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness.’
This is a quote from the author of ‘the boy, the mole, the fox and the horse’ Charlie Mackesy;
‘I am so small’ said the Mole
‘Yes’ said the boy ‘but you make a HUGE difference!’
Although we might be just one person, we can still have a big impact on the world, and 75 years on from Anne’s death it is really important to remember this.
After our speech we listen to Dame Esther Rantzen. Afterwards we got to meet her and present her with flowers.
I think it is fair to say the girls had a very memorable day. We are all so very proud of their achievements.
