A unique exhibition which keeps alive the stories of Holocaust survivors is coming to North Ayrshire early in the New Year.
Gathering the Voices features more than 40 moving stories from men, women and children who were forced to flee their native homes and seek sanctuary in Scotland to escape anti-semitism in Nazi-dominated Europe.
The exhibition will be hosted in the Burns Suite of Irvine Townhouse from January 7.
Cabinet member for Communities, Councillor Louise McPhater, said: “With each passing year, the number of Holocaust survivors who are still with us gets fewer and fewer.
“We must do everything we can to ensure that their voices and their experiences aren’t forgotten and that’s why this exhibition is so important.
“It’s a necessary reminder that we must never forget the horrors of the Holocaust so we can prevent it ever happening again.”
Gathering the Voices allows the survivors to speak first-hand about their experience of fleeing mainland Europe for safe haven in Scotland.
Although tragic, the stories are inspirational, allowing the positivity and determination of survivors to shine through. The interviewees speak about the terrible events that they experienced, but did not want to be remembered as victims but as people who made a new life for themselves in a new country, with new careers and new friends.
Their message is that anyone can fit in and make a success of their life.
Gathering the Voices will run at the Townhouse from Monday, 7 January, until Friday, 18 January, and the opening hours are 9.00 – 4.30pm
Issued by: John HutchesoEmail: johnhutcheson@north-ayrshire.gov.uk
Tel: 01294 324121
Date: 19 December 2018