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Stones
2 Genocide Awareness Day: Special report
Recently, the students attending Genocide Awareness Day at Hampton heard three moving stories from three amazing survivors, but what we couldn’t help but think about was how normal their lives were before the genocides, and how it could have been anyone in their positions. Sophie, Zigi and Kemal all experienced the horrors of genocide for different reasons, and all were brought up in different areas with different cultures but they were just ordinary people. All three speakers had a good upbringing, with a loving family and a network of friends. Although Zigi’s parents divorced when he was three, he lived well with his grandparents in an afflu-
ent part of Poland. He still recalls with amazement that fact that he had his own bedroom! Kemal and Sophie both had a good upbringing in their respective towns, surrounded by family and neighbours. Kemal had many friends from diverse backgrounds and Sophie enjoyed singing at church with her friends. They were ordinary children, living ordinary lives, free of thoughts of war and murder.
When chaos and war broke out, all three survivors talked about how they tried to live like they had before, with Sophie remaining at home in her village, Zigi refusing to go into hiding and Kemal refusing to become a soldier. “Why should we [have thought] we were going to die?” Zigi recalls. “We were just people.” Yet their lives were turned upside down. Zigi was forced into a ghetto and then to Auschwitz. Kemal spoke of the horrors of the Omarska concentration camp where he was interrogated by his teacher! Sophie witnessed the horrific murder of some of her family and cam close to death many times. They were ordinary people in terrible times. Anyone could have been in Sophie, Kemal or Zigi’s position.
More than a hundred and thirty students heard the testimony of Zigi, Sophie and Kemal at Hampton School.
The Genocide Awareness Day reports have been collaboratively written by: Joshua & Harry, Grey Court School Isabella & Scarlett, Lady Eleanor Holles School Isobel & Erin, St Richard Reynolds Catholic College Kristian, Kai, Morgan, Hampton High Jack, Luke & Anton, Turing House School Anya & Lilly, Christ’s School Emily & Millie, Tolworth Girls’ School
Holocaust survivor Zigi Shipper shares his experiences. A survivor of the Holocaust, Zigi Shipper, visits schools to teach young people about genocide. Today his discussed his experiences.
Q: Have you ever been back to visit Poland since the Holocaust?
A: I never wanted to go back to Poland. I never even wanted to go to AuschwitzBirkenau but when my daughters grew up they insisted. They wanted to see where I had been. It brought back some terrible memories.
Q: How did you adapt to normal life after your experiences?
A: The first six months were hell for me. But soon I met some other young survivors who became my family. We still see each other every weekend.
Q: Why do you think it is important to educate younger generations about genocide?
A: What is happening in the world today is just unbelievable. The young people are the future. I always say one thing to them: ‘Do not hate. Hate will ruin your life.’ Zigi is an inspiration to all of us. He has such passion for his work and believes that the younger generation have so much power and potential to be good. He always says ‘Do not hate, hate will ruin your life.’ This is something that the whole world can learn from and can inspire us to always choose love, not hate.
