Nominations open for Irena Sendler Young Person Award inspired by Second World War Polish heroine’s kindness and courage
Nominations have now opened for a new youth award, inspired by the selfless legacy of a woman who saved hundreds of lives during the Holocaust.
To coincide with the birthday of humanitarian and second world war heroine Irena Sendler’s birthday, schools from across Newark and Sherwood are being invited to nominate pupils for the Irena Sendler Young Person Award — which was officially launched on Holocaust Memorial Day.
Irena was part of a network of volunteers who smuggled thousands of Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto in Nazi-occupied Poland during the war — saving them from the extermination camps. Her statue stands in Fountain Gardens, on London Road, Newark.
The award has been introduced by Newark and Sherwood District Council as a way of honouring Irena’s legacy of selflessness and compassion towards others.
Primary and secondary schools across the district can now nominate pupils to be recognised for their own good deeds, selfless and thoughtful acts.
To do so, schools must explain how an individual has demonstrated kindness either for a peer or for their wider community.
Kindness comes in many forms and could be anything from wanting to make a difference in their community or raising money for a local charity, to an act of bravery or supporting someone going through a challenging time.
The closing date for nominations is Friday, June 27, and an awards ceremony will take place at the Newark and Sherwood Community Awards in September, alongside the already established Irena Sendler Humanitarian Award.
Four winners will be chosen and will receive a £25 voucher and certificate, and their nominating school will also receive a contribution of £125 towards learning resources.
Chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council, Jean Hall, said: “I am delighted that nominations for the Irena Sendler Young Person Award are now open.
“Often acts of selflessness go unacknowledged, particularly those undertaken by our younger generation and my hope is that this award will shine a light on the brilliant acts of kindness and bravery our young people have shown to their friends, family and wider community.
“A significant number of awards and recognitions for school pupils can be purely academic. While this is always something to celebrate, I know from speaking to people across the district, community group leaders, schools and even from submissions from the Newark and Sherwood Community Awards last year that our younger generation do a lot of good in our communities and I am passionate we recognise these achievements.
“I am very much looking forward to reading about all of the amazing things our young people have done to help their communities.”
Karolina Gorazda, head of cultural heritage at the Polish Cultural Institute in London, said: “As the Polish Cultural Institute, we are deeply proud to see the legacy of Irena Sendler honoured and continued in Newark.
“After the presentation of the Humanitarian Award in September 2024, we are delighted to see this idea extended to the younger generation through the Irena Sendler Young Person Award. Irena’s unwavering commitment to humanitarianism and selflessness remains a powerful inspiration, reminding us all of the profound impact one individual can have through acts of kindness.
“We are humbled that Irena Sendler is so warmly welcomed in Newark, that she has become a lasting symbol of humanity here, and that her award serves as another reminder of the strong relationship we have built with Newark over the past few years — not only in remembering the heroes of World War II but also in celebrating the vibrant Polish community in the area.”
