Stand Together, Strong Together

Stand Together, Strong Together

On Sunday 26 January Historyworks, commissioned by Cambridge City Council, organised a commemorative civic event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day in Cambridge. The theme this year was Stand Together, Strong Together. Bringing children from different schools together is a core part of the Holocaust Memorial Day activities and this year hundreds of children from across Cambridge worked with poet Michael Rosen alongside Helen Weinstein, Artistic Director at Historyworks, and the Holocaust survivor Eva Clarke. Also involved was Bethany Kirby who is not only a music tutor at Rowan but the musical talent behind turning Michael Rosen’s poems, which have been commissioned by Historyworks for Cambridge, into wonderful songs for the children to sing and inspiration pieces for community choirs to perform too!

The event was a great success with a fantastic turnout to mark such an important occasion. It comprised of songs, readings, poetry, dance and drama all inspired by moving words from survivor testimonies and uplifting words from groups actively campaigning for equalities and supporting diversity today – which includes Rowan! One of our drama groups worked with tutor Lindsey McAuley to create a short clip on Standing Strong, Standing Together. Watch it now!

The children from the schools involved were to pick two charities to support at this event and they chose Rowan and the Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum (CECF) Refugee Services. At the event an amazing £962.42 was raised which has been split between both charities. Our student artists came together today to say a BIG thank you to everyone from the organisers to those who attended and supported the event. Donations such as this make such a big difference to Rowan and helps support our day-to-day with all we do.