Student from a Chadderton school reflects on a life-changing trip to mark the Holocaust

A Student from a Chadderton school has reflected on a “life changing” trip to Poland as part of Holocaust education.

Asad, a Year 9 student from The Radclyffe School on Hunt Lane, is a member of the Oldham Youth Council, and was given a rare opportunity to take part in a profound trip to Poland as part of the Listen to the Earth project, which focuses on Holocaust education. 

Along with his fellow councillors and Oldham Theatre Workshop, he visited the historic town of Oświęcim. 

Asad, who was chosen as a youth councillor by his peers in Oldham, is enthusiastic about representing the voices of young people. 

He said: "In the Youth Council, we get to send letters to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, suggesting improvements to the manifesto. 

"We represent the young people of Oldham, so we take their requests and present them to the council or directly to the government." 

During the trip, Asad and the group spent five days in Oświęcim, where they visited the powerful and moving sites of the Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps. They also had the chance to explore a museum dedicated to Holocaust education. 

Asad reflected on the emotional impact of the visit, adding: "When we explored Oswiecim and Krakow, I felt really excited and curious. But when we visited the concentration camps and learned the history of this genocide, I felt upset and angry.” 

After their time in Oświęcim, the group made their way to Krakow, where they visited museums and explored the city. 

But for Asad, the journey was much more than sightseeing. The experience changed his perspective on life. 

"I’ve honestly learnt so much from this trip that I can say my life has changed," he reflected.