The Holocaust Educational Trust is proud to announce the launch of Stories from Willesden Lane, an exciting project for London schools which will take place in 2018 to educate young students about the Holocaust and, more specifically, the experiences of those saved by the Kindertransport.
The Trust will bring Stories from Willesden Lane to students across London in years 6 to 8. Young people across the capital will learn about and reflect on Britain’s response to the plight of the Jews of Europe and will ensure that the stories of the children who rebuilt their lives in Britain are kept alive.
Stories from Willesden Lane is a project based on The Children of Willesden Lane, a book which tells the story of Lisa Jura who was brought to England on the Kindertransport. Lisa was forced to flee her home in Vienna as a young girl and rebuild her life in London during the Second World War. Her incredible story will bring home the reality of the Holocaust, and Lisa’s refusal to give up on her dreams is set to inspire thousands of students across London. In an increasingly fragile world, the project will encourage young people to think about their role as active citizens in today’s society and understand the importance of challenging intolerance and prejudice in their communities.
Participating schools will also be invited to attend a musical performance of the story by concert pianist Mona Golabek – Lisa Jura’s daughter. The Pianist of Willesden Lane is a one-woman show which has brought this story to life to over 250,000 school children in the US and is now coming back to the city where the story began. We are also encouraging schools to tune into a live webcast of the testimony of a Kindertransport refugee who rebuilt their life here in London.
The Trust is urging schools to make the project part of their curriculum in 2018 in order to encourage wider reflection on the uniquely British story of the 10,000 Jewish children whose lives were saved thanks to their safe passage to the UK. 2018 also marks the 80th anniversary of the Kindertransport programme.
Karen Pollock MBE, Chief Executive of HET commented: “We are excited to offer schools in London the chance to inspire their students with Stories from Willesden Lane. It is a thought provoking and deeply emotive way to educate the next generation about the significance of the Kindertransport to Britain, and will help equip students with the knowledge they need to ensure the memory of the Holocaust continues. We have all heard stories about the Holocaust but there is nothing like hearing from those who came to Britain on the Kindertransport, in their own words. This is why we want to give students the chance to hear these stories first hand. The Kindertransport is part of our history and we hope that by understanding one girl’s story, students will draw relevance for their own lives and the world we live in today.”
For more information and to to be a part of London’s first ever Stories from Willesden Lane project, please visit www.willesdenlane.org.uk.
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