STUDENTS at Downend School heard from a Holocaust survivor, held discussions and created artworks as the world remembered the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
All pupils at the school took part in activities related to Holocaust Memorial Day on January 27, which marks the date the Nazi concentration and extermination camp was liberated in 1945.
A few days beforehand, Year 9 and 10 students joined the Holocaust Educational Trust’s annual webcast, which featured an interview and question and answer session with Mala Tribich.
Mala, aged 94, was born into a Polish Jewish family and taken to Ravensbrück and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps. She and her brother Ben Helfgott were the only members of their family to survive the war, both moving to Britain to start new lives.
One Year 10 student who took part in the event said: “Listening to Mala’s story was eye-opening. It made me realise the importance of standing up against hatred and prejudice.”
A Year 9 student added: “Hearing a survivor’s testimony made the history we learn in class feel so real and personal. It was a powerful reminder of why we must never forget.”
All pupils at the school had tutor sessions discussing how words can cause hurt towards others and aiming to build empathy, understanding, and respect within the school community.
Students from all year groups also created artworks based on selected words that resonated with them from the themes of Holocaust Memorial Day, from genocide to hope, love and respect.
They made drawings, paintings, poems, sculptures, and photos, many inspired by the yellow butterfly which has become a recurrent symbol in Holocaust remembrance, through its association with the yellow star “badge” that Jews were forced to wear.
The artworks were assembled into a large display.
Downend School head of religion, philosophy and ethics, Leanne Murley, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is a profound opportunity to remember the six million Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust, alongside the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution and subsequent genocides.
“Hearing Mala’s powerful testimony had a profound impact on the students, helping them to understand the human experiences behind the historical facts and inspiring them to stand against hatred and intolerance.
“The school was committed to making Holocaust Memorial Day 2025 a significant and educational experience for all its students, with the activities and projects undertaken not only developed to honour the memory of the victims but also empower students to be advocates for a more just and compassionate world.”