Act for Change

The world's media were out in force to this media call, with the Press Association, PA Multimedia, several national and international media and photo agencies turning up to capture the story. Here's what we did:

HOLOCAUST COUPLE MARRIED WITH 10,000 KIDS

Married Kindertransport and Auschwitz survivors face stunning statue for the forgotten children of the Holocaust

When: 10:00, Thursday 25 January 2007

Report to: Bronze memorial sculpture, Liverpool Street station forecourt

Holocaust survivors John and Marlene Altmann, married for 52 years this week, take part in a startling media call at the 'Children of the Kindertransport' sculpture at Liverpool street station tomorrow. On 16 March 1939, just two days after his ninth birthday, John arrived at Liverpool Street station with his brother. Like 80% of the 'Kinder' or 'children,' John's parents were murdered by the Nazis.

John and Marlene speak at workshops run by Act for Change, a Home Office funded organisation that runs Holocaust workshops with survivors in schools and communities in Britain. On Thursday - two days before Holocaust Memorial Day - they commit to two special acts for change, small personal gestures to honour the past and apply the lessons to the present. John and Marlene will stand arm in arm with the forlorn figures of the memorial, along with ten schoolchildren to symbolise the 10,000 Kinder. Their second act is an intimate talk after the photo call at the nearby Bedouin-style tent at St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. This frank discussion on Holocaust awareness comes after YouGov research released last week suggested that 28% of young Britons don't know if the Holocaust is a myth. John and Marlene say, 'Due to Big Brother, lots of children know more about racism than they did a couple of weeks ago - now we need to reach and teach children about the Holocaust.'

Photo / filming opportunities:

John and Marlene Altmann with ten year ten children, wearing labels round their necks like the Kinder, by the Kindertransport sculpture at Liverpool street station. The children are from St Helen's school in Northwood and have all taken part in Act for Change workshops for Northwood Holocaust Memorial Day

The survivors and children inside / outside the Tent, a Bedouin-style inter faith meeting place, made out of woven goats hair, which was opened at St Ethelburga's last year by the Prince of Wales

Interview opportunities:

Lynne Misner, Director of Act for Change, with an original perspective on the YouGov research, the wider context of genocide workshops and the relevance of the Holocaust for today's generation.

John and Marlene Altmann regarding the importance of Holocaust workshops, the meaning of Holocaust Memorial Day and their reasons for speaking out at a converted church. Marlene on Holocaust Memorial Day, the anniversary of the liberation from Auschwitz, where she was held

All media enquiries:

Simon Cohen
global tolerance
t: 0845 054 0064
m: 0751 538 7314
e: simon@globaltolerance.com