SECONDARY school pupils are set to take part in an online ceremony to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.

Pupils from five Blackburn with Darwen schools took part in a competition to creatively explore the theme of this year’s commemorations: ‘Be the light in the darkness’.

The pupils’ entries included poetry, drawing, painting and sculpture and were judged by the mayor of Blackburn with Darwen Iftakhar Hussain.

Pupils from Tauheedul Islam Boys’ High School (TIBHS) and St Wilfrid’s C of E Academy will present their creative pieces during the memorial day which will take place online due to national lockdown restrictions.

Zakaria Master, a Year 8 pupil at TIBHS, penned a moving poem. It explores themes around humanity and hope, and how we can all be the light in someone else’s darkness.

James Snelling, a Year 8 pupil at St Wilfrid’s, created a sculpture of a candle with teardrops representing the lives lost in the Holocaust, and hands to represent the survivors.

Coun Iftakhar Hussain said: “Judging the competition entries, it was clear to me that these young people approached the subject of discrimination and oppression with real maturity. The work they created, whether written or visual artwork, was very poignant and showed they had a good understanding of the Holocaust Memorial Day theme."

Rabbi Arnold Saunders will give the keynote address, and there will also be contributions from the Chair of Blackburn with Darwen Interfaith Forum Abdul Kheratker, and Youth MP Zara Hayat.

The ceremony will also feature a short film made by students from Darwen Aldridge Enterprise Studio featuring an interview with Holocaust survivor.

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place live on Blackburn Cathedral’s YouTube channel from 1.30pm on Wednesday 27 January and will be jointly hosted online by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, the Blackburn with Darwen Interfaith Forum and Blackburn Cathedral.