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Annual Composition Prize
Paul Seideman Annual Composition Prize
Background
Paul Seideman is a Holocaust survivor. Paul established a competition for Year 10 and Year 11-13 students at New Zealand secondary schools where the Holocaust is part of the curriculum.
As a young Jewish boy in then Czechoslovakia, Paul suffered enormously but managed to survive for several years in the Nazi German concentration and labour camps during World War II. After liberation, Paul emigrated to Australia and then New Zealand. He now lives in a Wellington retirement home.
To commemorate the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet Army on 27 January 1945, Paul funded an annual competition.
Background
Paul Seideman is a Holocaust survivor. Paul established a competition for Year 10 and Year 11-13 students at New Zealand secondary schools where the Holocaust is part of the curriculum.
As a young Jewish boy in then Czechoslovakia, Paul suffered enormously but managed to survive for several years in the Nazi German concentration and labour camps during World War II. After liberation, Paul emigrated to Australia and then New Zealand. He now lives in a Wellington retirement home.
To commemorate the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by the Soviet Army on 27 January 1945, Paul funded an annual competition.
2019 Year Level Categories and Topics
In 2019 we established new year level categories to enable and encourage all secondary school students to take part and engage in Holocaust education.
Years 7-8
Society is full of people who have stood up to prejudice and discrimination. During the Holocaust this was no exception. Describe the role that one person played in saving Jews during the Holocaust and explain what impact they have had on you.
Year 9 - 13
The impact of the Holocaust was felt globally. Explain how Holocaust survivors adapted to life after liberation and describe the contributions they have made to the post-Holocaust world.
Years 7-8
Society is full of people who have stood up to prejudice and discrimination. During the Holocaust this was no exception. Describe the role that one person played in saving Jews during the Holocaust and explain what impact they have had on you.
Year 9 - 13
The impact of the Holocaust was felt globally. Explain how Holocaust survivors adapted to life after liberation and describe the contributions they have made to the post-Holocaust world.
2019 Winners
Year 7-8: Rosetta Tanner, Year 8, Somerville Intermediate School, Auckland
The winner of the inaugural Year 7-8 category Rosetta Tanner, in Year 8 at Somerville Intermediate School in Auckland, wrote about Irena Sendler, the Polish nurse and social worker who smuggled more than 2,000 children out of the Warsaw ghetto. Rosetta said that researching Irena’s story “made me realise it is simple courageous acts that make someone a hero.”
Year 9 - 10: Orlando Ye, Year 9, Botany Downs Secondary College, Auckland
Orlando Ye, a Year 9 student at Botany Downs Secondary College in Auckland, won the Year 9-10 category, writing about how Holocaust survivors “found it very hard to return home” and that many chose to immigrate to countries around the world, including New Zealand.
Year 11-13: Sophey Jenkins, Year 12, Tararua College, Pahiatua
In her well researched consideration of life after liberation, Sophey Jenkins, Year 12, Tararua College, Pahiatua, noted that “as the numbers of Holocaust survivors dwindle, it is more important than ever to learn and pass on their stories to future generations.”
On Monday 27th January 2020, Rosetta, Orlando and Sophey orated their winning compositions at a prize giving at the United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day parliamentary reception, hosted by Hon Grant Robertson.
They spoke before an audience of distinguished guests, including Paul Seideman and other Holocaust survivors and descendants, Wellington Mayor Andy Foster, Robyn Baker - Chair of New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon, Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt, Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero, Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft, members of the interfaith community and diplomatic representatives of Argentina, Australia, Chile, Denmark, European Union, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Poland, Russia, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Congratulations and well done Rosetta, Orlando and Sophey.
HCNZ administers this annual competition with much appreciation to Mr Paul Seideman for his endowment of such a successful initiative.
We would like to thank all the students who submitted an entry, and acknowledge the high standard of research and composition. It is heartening to see the youth of Aotearoa engage with topics from the Holocaust with support from their teachers and parents.
They spoke before an audience of distinguished guests, including Paul Seideman and other Holocaust survivors and descendants, Wellington Mayor Andy Foster, Robyn Baker - Chair of New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO, Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon, Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt, Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero, Children's Commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft, members of the interfaith community and diplomatic representatives of Argentina, Australia, Chile, Denmark, European Union, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Poland, Russia, The Netherlands, The United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Congratulations and well done Rosetta, Orlando and Sophey.
HCNZ administers this annual competition with much appreciation to Mr Paul Seideman for his endowment of such a successful initiative.
We would like to thank all the students who submitted an entry, and acknowledge the high standard of research and composition. It is heartening to see the youth of Aotearoa engage with topics from the Holocaust with support from their teachers and parents.
2018 Winners
Mark Seddon & Georgia Wong with Paul Seideman and Ginny Andersen MP
at the United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day Parliament reception 27 January 2019.
Photography by Woolf
at the United Nations International Holocaust Remembrance Day Parliament reception 27 January 2019.
Photography by Woolf
