Sandymoor Ormiston Academy welcomed Holocaust survivor Joanna Millan to share her powerful story of survival to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January.
Joanna, now 82, was just under three years old when she was liberated from Theresienstadt in 1945 and airlifted to England. Her journey formed part of the BBC drama, The Windermere Children, which depicts the little-known stories of 300 orphaned Jewish refugees who found sanctuary in England’s Lake District in the summer of 1945.
During her visit to Sandymoor Ormiston Academy, Joanna spoke movingly about her early life before World War II, her experiences during the Holocaust and her enduring message of hope for humanity. The students engaged deeply with her story, later participating in a reflection lesson which built upon their wider curriculum learning in the lead-up to hearing Joanna speak.
This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day also marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi death camps. In a poignant act of remembrance, Sandymoor students held a candle-lighting ceremony, with eight candles symbolizing the 80 years since liberation.
By hosting Joanna Millan and participating in these meaningful activities, Sandymoor students joined a global movement of remembrance, ensuring that the lessons of history continue to be learned and passed on to future generations as part of a more tolerant and inclusive society.
Linsey Hand, Principal at Sandymoor Ormiston Academy, said: “It was such an honour to hear Joanna speak, and you could hear a pin drop in the hall. Her message of reconciliation and hope for the future is so important. Students had the opportunity to ask Joanna questions at the end of her talk, and it was brilliant to hear them speak so confidently about such a sensitive subject.”