London Holocaust Project Lead appointed by Fed My Voice-Yad Vashem UK Partnership
The Fed’s My Voice project, which chronicles the whole life stories of Northwest-based Holocaust Survivors and Refugees, and Yad Vashem UK announced a joint initiative earlier this year to extend the geographical reach of its one-of-a-kind service to London and the Southeast.
In furtherance of its aims, it has named Lauren Libbert, formerly of Manchester, as its new My Voice Project Lead – London. She will be based at Yad Vashem UK’s office in Hendon.
Lauren will be responsible for meeting and supporting Holocaust Survivor and Refugee storytellers, as well as recruiting and training volunteer befrienders, editors, photographers, and proof-readers.
Having originally trained as a solicitor, she has been working as a journalist in London for the last 25 years, editing women’s magazines before working freelance and writing women’s lifestyle and health features for national publications. She lives in North London and is married with two teenage sons.
Lauren will head the project which will publish the participants’ individual life stories into volumes which will provide lasting legacies for their loved ones, as well as invaluable living testimony and educational resources for generations to come.
Simon Bentley, Chairman of Yad Vashem UK said. “It is a privilege to have the opportunity of working with The Fed in the further development of My Voice in London and the South-East. We have close relationships with Survivors based here and look forward to working closely with Juliette Pearce, the My Voice Project Manager, and with Lauren, based in our office in North-West London.”
Juliette Pearce, My Voice Project Manager, who will oversee Lauren in her new role commented, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Yad Vashem UK to extend our unique Manchester service in the interests of Survivors living in London and the South-East.
I’m confident that Lauren’s incredible drive and enthusiasm and vast experience will bring wonderful assets to the new project. We are enormously excited to get started in London!”
For more info contact
The Fed | Raphi Bloom – raphi.bloom@thefed.org.uk | 07816 857105
Yad Vashem UK | Simon Bentley – simon@simonbentley.net | 07774 151111
Yad Vashem UK
A charity which promotes Holocaust education and awareness by sponsoring an annual seminar for UK teachers and informal educators at the International School of Holocaust Studies at Yad Vashem.
They promote their educational philosophy through unique travelling exhibitions, learning resources, and the use of Yad Vashem educators and public speakers.
It puts names to the faceless victims of the Holocaust and remembers them through its Guardian of the Memory Campaign and Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah twinning projects.
They aim to strengthen commitment to Jewish continuity; protect the basic values of humankind by fighting discrimination, bigotry, indifference, and hatred; remember the six million Jewish victims and educate future generations.