Northern Ireland Community Relations Council - About Us - News - Ballymena Inter Ethnic Forum Welcomes Holocaust Survivor

22 April 2010

On Tuesday 27th April, students and community members from across Ballymena will hear testimony from Holocaust Survivor, Zigi Shipper, as part of a visit to Ballymena organised by Ballymena Inter Ethnic Forum (BIEF), Ballymena Inter Agency Ethnic Support Group, the Mid-Antrim Museums Service through the Peace III Cultural Fusions programme and the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET).

The event is funded by Community Relations Council, the Association of Teachers Lecturers (ATL) Trade Union and the European Union's PEACE III programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the North East PEACE III Partnership.

Zigi’s testimony will be a focal point of BIEF’s Young People’s Conference “Looking Back / Looking Forward” which will be held at the Braid Town Hall and Mid-Antrim Museum. The event has been organized in partnership with the nine post-primary schools in the town who already work closely on community relations work as ‘Ballymena Learning Together’.

The testimony will be followed by a question and answer session to enable students to better understand the nature of the Holocaust and to explore its lessons in more depth.

Alastair Donaghy, Chair of BIEF, commented:

“It is a privilege for us to welcome Zigi Shipper to Ballymena and his testimony will remain a powerful reminder of the horrors so many experienced. We are grateful to the Holocaust Educational Trust for co-ordinating the visit and we hope that by hearing Zigi’s testimony, it will encourage students to learn from the lessons of the Holocaust and make a positive difference in their own lives.”

Andy Brown, ATL President added:

“ATL NI are delighted to be sponsoring the guest speaker at the event, Zigi Shipper, Holocaust Survivor, from the Holocaust Educational Trust (HET) to talk to pupils and teachers about his experiences. This is a great initiative that brings our pupils in Ballymena closer to history.”

Karen Pollock, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust added:

“The Holocaust Educational Trust educates and engages students from across the UK, from all communities about the Holocaust and there can be no better way than through the first-hand testimony of a Survivor. Zigi’s story is one of tremendous courage during horrific circumstances and by hearing his testimony, students will have the opportunity to learn where prejudice and racism can ultimately lead

At the Trust, we impart the history of the Holocaust to young people, to ensure that we honour the memory of those whose lives were lost and take forward the lessons taught by those who survived.”

The event is being organised as part of Community Relations Week, which runs from April 26 to May 2 and is the biggest week in the community relations calendar involving 150 events and thousands of people throughout Northern Ireland.

The theme for the week is the role of young people in building a shared society, with the strapline Time to Change the Conversation

Tony McCusker, Chairman of the Community Relations Council which devised and co-ordinates Community Relations Week every year says : “This week has become a vital means by which the work of those in the community relations sector is communicated to, and recognised, by a wider audience. It is only one week in the year, but it highlights the important work of this sector that takes place throughout the year.”