Essex & Suffolk students praised for projects commemorating the Holocaust

Colne Community School pupils at the Dora Love Prize 2015, Gabriel Whyte and Isabel Boon (Image: Archant)

A number of schools took part in the annual Dora Love Prize organised by the University of Essex, held in memory of Holocaust survivor Dora Love.

Northgate High School pupils at the Dora Love Prize 2015: Pictured from left to right Bradley Sayer, Robin Schellenberg, Maia Harper, Tom Maycock, Oliver Allard, Martha Cason, Veron Procter, Rosie Krolik and Malachi Linton. (Image: Archant)

Northgate High School, Ipswich, and Colne Community School, Brightlingsea, were runner-ups at the prize evening and were praised by the panel of judges for their impressive projects.

For the Colne school project, Remembering the Holocaust in the 21st Century, pupils used QR codes which when scanned with a mobile phone linked to information about a specific group persecuted by the Nazis during their time in power.

The other schools taking part included Tendring Technology College and Maltings Academy, Witham.

Professor Rainer Schulze, who organises Holocaust Memorial Week at the University of Essex, said: “Holocaust survivor Frank Bright, who is the patron of the Dora Love Prize, made the presentation to the winners.

“He was visibly moved by the youngsters’ impressive projects which are keeping the memory alive of those who perished in the Holocaust.

“Our special candle, commissioned by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, was lit for a second time by Frank at the beginning of the evening and took pride of place on the stage, together with the portrait of Dora Love, during the whole of the evening.”

The Dora Love Prize was established in memory of the Holocaust survivor who worked tirelessly to raise awareness that the attitudes which made the Holocaust possible – intolerance, discrimination and outright hatred of those who are regarded as different for whatever reason – are still alive all around us today.

The prize is awarded each year for the best Holocaust awareness project by an individual pupil or group of pupils at a school in Essex or Suffolk.

The panel of judges included Dora’s daughter Janet, Antonella Castelvedere from University Campus Suffolk, Joan Davies from the University of Essex, Dora Love’s friend Tanya White and Antony Penrose, Director of the Lee Miller Archives.

Mr Bright, from Martlesham Heath, is an honorary graduate at University Campus Suffolk.