Nicola Sturgeon applauds young HET ‘witnesses’ after Auschwitz visit

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has applauded dozens of teenage ambassadors of the Holocaust Educational Trust after they returned from Auschwitz-Birkenau committed to act as “witnesses”.

Almost 5,000 Scottish students aged 16 and over have taken part in HET’s Lessons from Auschwitz programme, and Sturgeon spoke from the heart this week, given that she also visited Auschwitz in October last year.

She said she was “honoured” to take part in the programme, which gave youngsters “the opportunity to not only learn about the Holocaust, but to see the Auschwitz-Birkenau sites and hear first-hand accounts from survivors”.

Sturgeon added that the ambassadors were “a credit to their schools and communities as they fulfil their roles”.

The Scottish Parliament’s Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh MSP said: “It is so important that we can provide a platform for these young ambassadors to share their experiences of being part of such an inspirational project.

“Hearing directly from the young people themselves has really brought to life the impact that this programme has had. I hope more young people across Scotland continue to be positively inspired by these young ambassadors and the lessons they have learned.”

HET chief executive Karen Pollack said: “After participating in this life-changing experience, young people return as witnesses, sharing the responsibility of teaching others the lessons of the past and ensuring that the victims of the Holocaust are remembered.”