Be the light in the darkness

The impressive programme has been organised by Stand Together – a group of young people in Hartlepool aged 13-16 who promote solidarity, tolerance and the need to value difference and diversity – with support from Hartlepool Youth Service.

The theme this year is ‘Be The Light In The Darkness’ – how everyone has a role to play in standing up to persecution and inhumanity.

The programme is all happening online this year due to Covid-19 and the young people have steered a course through the many challenges of the pandemic to make it a reality.

Throughout the day on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hartlepoolyouthservices and on Youtube via the link bit.ly/STHpoolYT there will be films, poetry, music and photography plus a display of light creations made by schools, community groups and young people. People will also be invited to join in a candle lighting ceremony.

Highlights of the programme – which will run from 10am to 8pm – include:

12 noon - ‘Hearts Of The Harbour’ – a video featuring a thought-provoking poem written by Stand Together with local writer Annabelle Napper, accompanied by film footage from Daft as Rags and music from Horace Zontal.

1pm – ‘The Upstander’ – a ‘call to action’ video written by Stand Together and developed by Wes Hāl Studio. Find out how you can be a light in the darkness.

2pm - ‘Lighthouses and Lanterns’ – an opportunity to find out how Hartlepool people of all ages have been learning about Holocaust Memorial Day and have been making lanterns and lighthouses to represent the ‘Be The Light In The Darkness’ theme.

4pm - ‘I Am The Light In The Darkness’ – Hear how people from Hartlepool and around the country respond to the question ”Why are you the light in the darkness?” in this short video, which features images created by Stand Together with artist Vicky Jackson and photographer Amelia Turner.

7pm – Candle-lighting ceremony. Join the young people to light a candle in memory of all those who were murdered in the Holocaust and in other genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

For the full programme and timings visit www.facebook.com/hartlepoolyouthservices.

Speaking on behalf of the rest of the group, Stand Together member Mark Popplewell thanked everyone who has given their time and expertise to help make the event a reality.

He said: “Our event encourages people to reflect on the depths to which humanity can sink, but also the way individuals and communities resisted the darkness to be the light before, during and after genocide.

“It’s a call for action – we can all be upstanding rather than bystanding. We can all stand in solidarity. We can all choose to be the light in the darkness.”