Holocaust Memorial Day

There are, in every society, people who find themselves at the bottom of the social heap, those who are excluded, derided, and oppressed. It is something that has happened across millennia and civilisations and something that we continue to work to eradicate. Part of this fight to bring about a more equal and fair society demands that we remember those who were victims of systematic attempts annihilate them, simply because of who their parents were, the colour of their skin, their political persuasion, or their religious beliefs. We remember them because it galvanises our determination to break down barriers in society and bring about hope for a better world. We remember them because they did not deserve to how they did, or why they did.

27 January is Holocaust Memorial Day. Please remember the millions of people - Jewish, Socialist, Communist, Roman Catholic, disabled, gay, lesbian, and Gypsy, Romany, and Traveller - who lost their lives in the most inhumane, degrading conditions imaginable, simply because who they were did not fit with the Nazi vision of the world. We're all a part of this world, however we came into it, whatever we believe, however we choose to lead our lives. It's our world, and we have a duty to make it a more equal, better one.

People are just people

Human beings are generally curious creatures. We like to know about other people and other ways of life. In some respects this can be construed as nosiness, but predominantly it is what fosters our thirst for knowledge and our desire to learn. The education pack builds on this inherent inquisitiveness, showing children and young people about other people's lives. What I really wanted to include amongst the resources were the voices and experiences of Gypsy, Romany, Traveller children and young people, to give the children and young people who will be using the pack a window into the lives of their peers.

Last week I met with five young Gypsy, Romany, Traveller people from a site in Cambridgeshire. I invited them to make a recording to be included in the education pack, telling other people of their age about their lives. It took us an entire morning, two attempts, and myriad cups of tea, but we enjoyed ourselves and had some very interesting conversations.

All five of them were keen to stress that they aren't that different from other people their age: they like to play on their X-Boxes, they enjoy going to the cinema, and spending time with their friends is important to them. We also spoke about school, their families and friends, and about their hopes and fears for the future.

I listened to the recording again this morning and am looking forward to sitting down with someone more technologically adept than I am so that it can be edited. It contains a mine of valuable commentary, but I'm not sure that the drone of the washing machine in the background and the fits of giggles into which we occasionally descended are entirely necessary inclusions. At around twenty minutes long, it also needs to be broken into more manageable sections. But hearing these young people's thoughtful answers and the determination that underlies their wonderful senses of humour made me incredibly proud to be working with them.

Thank you, B, P, R, S, and T.

- Daniela