Irena Sendler - Heroine and Teacher - Newark Library - Community Learning

About this course

Have you seen the statue of World War 2 heroine Irena Sendler in Fountains Garden in Newark on Trent?  Would you like to learn who this courageous woman was and how she saved 2000 children’s lives? Timed in the same week as Holocaust Memorial Day, this interactive course will offer a biographical account of Irena’s life and work, reflections and learning points on what she can still teach us.  As part of the course we will take the short walk (about a quarter of a mile) from Newark Library to Irena’s statue for art appreciation and reflections on the messages in the statue. 

Learners will have the opportunity to engage biographically with Irena, considering the great personal risks she took, both for her own life and those of the children she saved; her motivations and strategies.  We will consider together the impact of her work on different people she helped, using case studies; and we will reflect on Irena’s lessons for us today as we live with the challenges of increasing ethnic and religious intolerance and the opportunities to welcome refugees into our communities and to move forward after the ravages and losses caused by the Covid pandemic. 

By the end of the courses, learners will have:- 

• Engaged with Irena’s biography 
• Discussed her motivations and strategies for saving so many children 
• Considered, through case studies, the impact of her actions from the perspective of her family and friends, the parents whose children she saved, and the children themselves 
• Reflected on what Irena can teach us for social justice today 
• Engaged with her statue through art appreciation and reflection 
• This is an introductory course so no prior knowledge of Irena’s life and work will be expected or required. 

Learners do not need to bring any course materials. Handouts will be provided but a notepad and pen will be useful for learners to make supplementary notes or write down their own reflections.  It is advised that learners attend with suitable footwear and clothing to walk to Irena’s statue. 

Booking your place and fee information

If you are in receipt of certain benefits you will be offered the course for free, however if you have a financial barrier which may prevent you from enrolling on the course  please visit our webpage for further information  https://www.inspireculture.org.uk/skills-learning/funding-your-courses/

To secure your place on the course BOTH the following must be done:

• Complete the EVENTBRITE BOOKING.
• Complete our INSPIRE ONLINE ENROLMENT FORM for each person attending the course.

You should be redirected to the Inspire Online Enrolment Form after completing the Eventbrite booking.  If you are not redirected, please use the link supplied in the Eventbrite booking confirmation email.

To book and enrol on one of our courses, you must have been living in England and have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years.

Some exceptions may apply if you are living in England with evidence of the right to remain and are from an EEU/EEAU country (completion of a questionnaire will be required).

As we no longer receive funding for our ESFA-funded courses for learners living in the devolved areas listed below, full cost fees would apply to these courses if you live in these areas:

• Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield 
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
• Greater London
• Greater Manchester
• Liverpool City Region
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland
• Tees Valley
• West of England
• West Midlands
• West Yorkshire

Any questions?

Check the FAQs page, or get in touch:

• By phone: 01623 677 200
• By email: learning@inspireculture.org.uk

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