Pupils selected for Amsterdam visit

22.11.2023

Two pupils from Chetwynde School have visited Amsterdam as part of a national project to challenge prejudice.

Rocco Whitehouse and Ben Hanna, who are in Year 10 at the school on Rating Lane, were chosen from over 60 Anne Frank Trust Ambassadors who applied for the 16 places.

The 14-year-olds visited the Anne Frank House to learn about The Holocaust and Jewish people living in Amsterdam, reflecting on Anne’s life and their own identity, in a three-day trip paid for by the Anne Frank Trust.

Rocco said: “We went to Anne Frank’s house and saw how difficult it was to live in that tiny little house and thought about what life was like for them hiding away from the Germans.

“I hadn’t been to Amsterdam before and it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see first-hand that part of history.”

Ben said: “Going to Anne Frank’s house helped me to understand better how challenging her life was. We also met the other ambassadors and made friends.”

They penned their experiences into poetry and will share their thoughts with the wider school as part of a Holocaust Remembrance Assembly in January in conjunction with the Anne Frank Trust.

Both Rocco and Ben were appointed Anne Frank Trust Ambassadors around a year ago and have attended meetings and workshops with the charity looking at issues such as equality.

Assistant Director of Education for The Anne Frank Trust UK Naomi Griffiths-Littlechild said both Rocco and Ben had been selected in a highly-competitive process.

“They were selected from over 60 ambassadors who applied to come. They were a credit to themselves and the school engaging well with the trip and asking brilliant questions, it was a privilege to take them,” she said.

Teacher Michelle Doolan, of Chetwynde School, which is part of South Cumbria Multi-Academy Trust said everyone was very proud of the pair.

“It will have been an incredible experience for them and it’s brilliant to get such positive feedback.

“I think they have done well to be selected as not everybody that applied got a place.

“I am hoping we can encourage more students to become ambassadors this year when The Anne Frank Trust visit us again to do another workshop. So, more of our students can take up opportunities like this in the future.”