Students have been inspired to speak out against hatred and prejudice thanks to events at the universities of Essex and Suffolk in Holocaust Memorial Week.

East Anglian Daily Times: The winning East Bergholt High School and Alde Valley Academy students with Holocaust survivor, Frank Bright - who attended both events. Picture: UOEThe winning East Bergholt High School and Alde Valley Academy students with Holocaust survivor, Frank Bright - who attended both events. Picture: UOE (Image: Archant)

Students have been inspired to speak out against hatred and prejudice thanks to events at the universities of Essex and Suffolk in Holocaust Memorial Week.

Taking place in the lead up to the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, which took place on January 27 1945, the week has included a talk held at the University of Suffolk on Friday afternoon and an awards ceremony at Essex.

The Dora Love Prize was held on Wednesday, and saw Suffolk schools East Bergholt High and Alde Valley Academy taking home the joint prize for their presentation on Holocaust awareness.

Trevor Stafford, history teacher at Alde Valley Academy, was full of praise for what judges described as the students’ “creativity and intelligence” on the project.

“The students had taken ownership of the project rather than being led by teachers,” said Mr Stafford, who emphasised what a “privilege” it was to work with the students.

“Many of this group would never have imagined themselves presenting in a 450 seat lecture theatre, but their determination was wonderful. I can honestly say it has been my best moment in all my years of teaching history.”

The award is named after Dora Love, a Holocaust survivor who lived in Colchester for 30 years, until her death in 2011. The prize is awarded to high school students who can create a presentation continuing Mrs Love’s work in campaigning against the attitudes that made the Holocaust possible.

In Ipswich, the University of Suffolk dedicated an afternoon to remembering the Holocaust with the theme ‘The Power of Words’.

Introduced by mayor Sarah Barber, attendees included MP Sandy Martin and Northgate High School students. It focused on the “worrying parallels” between the treatment of Jewish refugees and those in the modern day from places such as Syria and Lebanon.

Frank Bright, a Holocaust survivor living near Ipswich, watched the students’ presentations – which included a tapestry and a reading of Anne Frank’s diary.

Edward Packard from the university shared it received “positive feedback” and commended the Ipswich Faith and Community Forum, as well as thanking Caroline Brooks of International Alert for speaking about her work.