Students’ German journey to represent city at youth democracy event
Dr Claudia Sternberg has joined a delegation of students from the University of Leeds to represent the city at an international youth event marking the end of the Second World War, the liberation of Auschwitz and the defeat of Nazism.
The first and second year students are in Dortmund – one of Leeds’ twin cities – for the week that includes the 70th anniversary of VE Day on 8 May.
They were invited to take part in Dortmund’s International Democracy Days, as part of a 60-strong group of 16- to 20-year-olds from its other twin cities in France, Russia, USA, Israel, Serbia, China and Turkey.
A range of activities is planned for the visitors, who will be joined by local young people of the same age, looking at the subject of democracy from various different perspectives.
Dr Claudia Sternberg, from the University of Leeds’ School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies, is accompanying the students and will also be seeking to make links with the city as part of the University’s Legacies of War First World War centenary project.
She said: 'While we in Leeds have been exploring the diverse experiences and legacies of World War One, memory culture in Germany remains focused on the Holocaust and the Second World War.'“Dortmund’s international approach to commemorating 1945 is a great opportunity to reflect together on a traumatic past and develop shared visions for our present and future.'
The opportunity for the trip came via Leeds City Council. The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor David Congreve, said: 'Leeds’ twin city partnership with Dortmund came as a result of a movement across Europe in the years after the end of the Second World War to promote a sense of both peace and democracy between different countries and their people.
'It is fitting therefore that students from the University of Leeds are making this trip to our twin city of Dortmund to reflect, remember and take part in this youth event to coincide with the 70th anniversary of VE Day.'
Ullrich Sierau, Lord Mayor of Dortmund, said: 'Remembering 1945 can show young people in particular that vigilance, moral courage and resistance are absolutely essential and can show how important democracy and democratic institutions are in order to handle conflicts peacefully and to prevent violence.'
The students are Daisy Clough, 19, Jessica Fogarty, 18, Rebecca Hall, 19, Jordan Keighley, 20, Abbie Maunder, 18, and Lydia Lee, 19. Between them, they are studying history, German, French and cultural studies.
Jordan, a second year history student, has been involved with the Preservative Party, a group of 14- to 24-year-olds working with Leeds Museums and Galleries to promote the city’s local history and heritage.