St Cuthbert’s Pupils Inspire Global Audience Through Memory in Action Legacy Projects
A group of Year 9 pupils from St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School recently represented the school on an international stage, sharing their Memory in Action legacy projects with an audience of more than 700 educators and practitioners from across five continents.
The pupils were invited to participate in the online conference, Empowering Young People to Change the World, hosted by the Memory in Action Programme Team. The event brought together teachers, school leaders and educational professionals from around the world to explore how young people can become agents of positive change in their communities.
As participants in the We Are Holocaust and Genocide Programme, the pupils have spent the past year exploring the impact of prejudice, discrimination and hatred throughout history, while considering the role they can play in building a more compassionate and just society. As part of this journey, they have developed a range of legacy projects designed to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides continue to inspire action and reflection within school and beyond.
During the presentation, the pupils spoke confidently and eloquently about their experiences of the programme, sharing how it had challenged their thinking and inspired them to take meaningful action. They outlined the aims of their projects and reflected on the importance of standing up against injustice, promoting understanding and ensuring that the stories of survivors are never forgotten.
The event was made even more special by the opportunity to present alongside Holocaust survivor Martin Stern and Bosnian genocide survivor Smajo Bešo. Throughout their involvement in the programme, pupils have had the profound privilege of hearing first-hand testimony from both Martin and Smajo's powerful stories have brought history to life, helping pupils to understand the devastating consequences of prejudice while inspiring other to become ambassadors for remembrance, tolerance and human dignity.
The conference provided a unique opportunity for St Cuthbert’s pupils to showcase not only their learning but also the values that lie at the heart of the school community. Through their confidence, maturity and thoughtful reflections, they demonstrated the qualities of Competence, Conscience, Compassion and Commitment that underpin life at St Cuthbert’s.
Mr Ruscoe, Head of History, said:
"We are incredibly proud of our pupils and the way they represented both themselves and the school. To present to an international audience of educators is a remarkable achievement, but what impressed us most was the passion and sincerity with which they shared their learning. Their legacy projects demonstrate that young people have the power to make a real difference in the world, and they are a credit to our school community."
The pupils represented St Cuthbert’s with distinction throughout the conference and demonstrated that, by learning from the past, young people can play a vital role in shaping a more hopeful future.
