cohesionbradford

Ambassadors and friends outside the Anne Frank House

Photograph Nicola Fox

Bradford’s Anne Frank Ambassadors' VIP visit to the Anne Frank House Amsterdam

Nineteen of Bradford’s fifty two Anne Frank Ambassadors and contributers to Stand up to Hatred enjoyed a VIP visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam on the 24^th February 2009. It was a long day involving the Ambassadors meeting at Leeds Bradford Airport at 5.30am in the morning and returning exhausted at 10.00pm, from an exciting, busy day increasing their knowledge of the Second World War, Anne Frank and human rights.

Thanks to the Anne Frank Trust UK and the Anne Frank House Amsterdam for welcoming the group as VIP guests (no queing and free of charge!) and to Bradford Council for funding the trip. Special thanks are due to Lucy Glennon (Anne Frank Trust UK) and Jane Redman (Anne Frank House Amsterdam ) who helped increase the ambassadors’ understanding of the importance of Anne Frank and the Anne Frank House 'a museum that tells a story', while the ambassadors were inside the actual house itself.

The ambassadors found the experience of exploring the house and the secret annexe behind the bookcase ‘wicked’, 'a little scary', 'sad' and ' very moving.' They commented on how the visit put all their previous knowledge into context. They will use the experience in their role as the ambassador guides at the Anne Frank [+ you} exhibition (Cartwright Hall, March 2009) to help other school children understand the importance of the Anne Frank story for young people today. 

The Bradford's Anne Frank Ambassadors presented a copy of  ‘Stand up to Hatred’  to the Education Officer at the Anne Frank House, who thanked them for their hard work and commitment and asked them to carry on being Anne Frank Ambassadors, encouraging other young people to explore their own human rights and responsibilities.