NSI at SHAPE

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Last week we had the pleasure of returning to the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Powers in Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium! We worked with talented students from the British, Canadian and Norwegian Sections. Young people worked with our brilliant practitioners Nik Perring and Emily Hopkins, creating thought provoking poetry, speeches and artwork, answering our competition question: How can we prevent future wars? Some of this work can be seen below, including a display made up of origami birds from children in each Section.

On the final day of our visit they presented their work, with a resounding request for adults to listen to young people. The Director General of SHAPE International School, Lutgart Claes, was in Attendance, along with The United Kingdom's National Military Representative (NMR), Air Commodore Steve Kilvington.

A huge thank you to the team at the British Section for their kind hospitality and well done to all of the students that took part!

 

NSI 10th Anniversary Celebration at Edinburgh Castle

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On 29 February 2024 we held a special roadshow at Edinburgh Castle as part of our 10th anniversary celebrations! 

The Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, OBE DL VR welcomed students from across Scotland who have participated in NSI programmes to present their creative pieces to dignitaries including community leaders, members of the armed forces and MSPs attending the event. The young people reflected on a wide range of topics; from the centenary of the First World War to more recent conflicts. Military children also shared what it means to be a child of a serving parent. A powerful collective of youth voices, our future leaders and peace-keepers.

The following schools from across Scotland were represented: Gordonstoun School, Larbert High School, Elgin Academy, Lossiemouth High School, Colgrain Primary School, Hermitage Primary School, St. Leonards Primary School and Bell Baxter High School. 

Dr Alice König, who spoke about the importance of including children in the peace building process, stated after the event: 

NSI’s 10th anniversary event at Edinburgh Castle on 29th Feb 2024 captured exactly what this amazing charity is all about. It provided a platform – and a very high-profile audience! – for young people from all over Scotland, to share poetry, speeches, song and art expressing their views on conflict. It was moving to hear children from service families not only finding their own voices but being inspired by NSI to empower others in their community to come together and share and speak. And we also heard such powerful words from junior and senior school students on the costs of war, the legacy of forced displacement and positive paths towards peace. It was clear from conversations at the reception afterwards that their words had hit home with so many different listeners, from military personnel to politicians. This is what NSI is all about: not just helping young people express their views but giving them opportunities to influence and inspire the adults around them, as advocates, activists and experts in their own right. I am amazed by what NSI has achieved over the last ten years, and excited about their potential to continue empowering young people and helping them to shape our future conversations on conflict. Thank you NSI!

Our thanks go to the individuals that made this event such a success. These include the Governor of Edinburgh Castle, Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich, OBE DL VR, our President Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence KCVO, CB, CSM, ADC, Hilary Scott and the Castle staff, Piper - Major R T McCrindle SG, our fabulous photographer Jenny Catlow and every parent and teacher that supported the stars of the show. 

We are also incredibly grateful to the Balmoral, Apex and Ritz hotels for their kind contributions.

Guests listen to an Opening speech by lady lucy french obe - Founder & chair of nsi

David and Ekua from Larbert High School presenting their poems

Service child and NSI Young Ambassador Alfie delivering his speech

NSI Workshops and Roadshow in Helmstedt, Germany

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In late February we had the pleasure of visiting the town of Helmstedt in Lower Saxony, Germany. This was our third time running poetry workshops in the area, which have taken place over the last two years, led by NSI Poet in Residence Clive Sanders. Helmstedt is twinned with Clive’s home town of Chard in Somerset and has a fascinating history, especially in regards to it's proximity to the old border between East and West Germany.

Over two days we ran a series of poetry workshops at Giordano-Bruno-Gesamtschule, Gymnaisum Anna-Sophianeum and Gymansium Julianum, with young people of various ages and backgrounds. Participants were answering the question ‘how does war affect people’s lives?’ Several students had personal perspectives to share, while other looked at historical conflicts. Everyone approached the topic sensitively and showed great respect for their peers.

On Thursday 22nd February we hosted a poetry showcase event at the Juleum Novum in Helmstedt - a beautiful old university building. This was fantastic success, with students from the three school listed above sharing work, as well as Gymnasium am Bötschenberg. The words of the young people had a profound impact on the audience.

A teacher from the Giordano-Bruno-Gesamtschule commented after the event:

‘You know already how much I appreciate your workshops and how much I loved the event happening at the Juleum. Those poets we have in Helmstedt warmed everyone's hearts and made me cry. Even the parents came and were so proud of their children which was an amazing experience both for them and us.’

We would like to thank Harald and Gabi Spitzer, Bettina Friedrich, Kathrin Sohr, Erik Beyen, Dr Joachim Scherrieble and Viktória Blahó. We are also grateful to the Juleum for giving us access to their beautiful space. We hope to return to Helmstedt in the near future!

Clive and Will working with students at Giordano-Bruno-Gesamtschule (picture credit: Kathrin Sohr)

Students from Gymnasium am Bötschenberg presenting their work on stage at the juleum in helmstedt (Picture credit: Erik Beyen)

The poetry roadshow at the juleum (Picture Credit: Erik Beyen)

A Celebration of Home for Ukrainian and Unaccompanied Children Living in Ayrshire

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We were delighted to be part of a fantastic event at Ayr Town Hall on 7th February, which brought together 110 students from North, East and South Ayrshire. Nine primary and eleven secondary schools were represented.

The young people who took part came from a wide variety of places, including Ukraine, Afghanistan, Chad, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria and Scotland. Many of them were displaced and writing in a new language. They were guided through the creative process by NSI practitioner Nik Perring, who asked some simple questions relating to food, object, language, experience and advice. Every participant did a fantastic job at translating their answers into poetry to celebrate where they are from, what they miss and what they have discovered in their new home.

Following the workshop, students ate lunch together, before presenting their work to an audience of their peers, teachers, parents, local Councillors, academics and representatives from Education Scotland.

Orsolya Dunn - ESOL / Core Skills Lecturer (East Ayrshire) commented after the event:
’It was amazing to see how invested they were in sharing their thoughts and feelings, the power of poetry will never stop amazing me. I have seen a real drive and need from the students to tell their personal story, so this is definitely something that I will need to create safe opportunities for in our classes in the future. I’ve been very careful so far in my work with them, not wanting to elicit things that could potentially cause harm to the person who shares or the person who hears the story, but yesterday’s event has proved to be somewhat of a turning point.’

Our thanks go to South Ayrshire Council for making the day possible, as well as the Thriving Communities Interpreters, Ayrshire College ESOL and photography, Barnardo’s Scotland Welcome Service and the Refugee Council.

Hillsborough Castle

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On Tuesday 10th October 2023, 18 students from schools across Northern Ireland gathered at Hillsborough Castle alongside members of the NSI team and Northern Ireland Office (NIO).

The purpose of our visit was to celebrate their contributions to a poetry collection marking the 25th Anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement (BGFA). Students were encouraged to write either a 25 word or 25 line poem reflecting on this historical document and its legacy. The collection can be viewed HERE.

After going on a fascinating tour of the castle and learning more about the BGFA, students were able to a view the signed document in person! They then read a selection of their poems in the Throne Room for the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland - Lord Caine. Each poet did a fantastic job, sharing some thoughtful, honest and hopeful responses.

Our thanks go to the NIO, PRONI Head of Conservation Sarah Graham, Lord Caine and staff at Hillsborough Castle for their support.

Service Children Taking Centre Stage!

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Army&You Magazine recently featured an article about the service children who have been part of our Voices of Armed Forces Children project. You can read about 21 tri-force children who came to London to record Welcome Home, a song written by two service children, which was awarded First Place in our international competition. You can also read about Tyler, who won First Place in the 9-11 Poetry category. Read the article HERE.

What does Remembrance mean to you?

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Ahead of Remembrance, the charity Never Such Innocence have invited children across the country to express their thoughts and feelings on Remembrance via poetry. Every year, the nation comes together to mark Remembrance. Sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen stand alongside the public, including children, to remember all the brave men and women that came before them. The MOD shared a variety of poems by NSI alumni, read more here…

The Telegraph features a poem by NSI Poet in Residence

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Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir Nick Carter wrote a special article on Remembrance Sunday, which features a poem written by our Poet in Residence, Clive Sanders. ‘This year Remembrance Sunday will be very different. There will be no parades, no march pasts, no festivals. It will be a lonely affair, conducted in lockdown, without the chance for people to come together, to share memories and to show their respects. It will be particularly difficult for our veterans. So, this year we need to work harder to remind people why Remembrance matters.’ Read the full article here.

NSI Winner Donates to Local Teachers and Students

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A 15-year-old student of Olabisi Onabanjo University International School, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Mariam Ayolola Kaka, who emerged the overall winner of a global art competition has given a scholarship and bursary awards to needy students in the state. Kaka who is the daughter of a former Deputy Governor of the state, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, had outshone over 4,000 participants in the international art competition entitled “Fight for Freedom” organised by a charity group, Never Such Innocence,” with her artwork entry: “Nostalgic Salutation to Fallen Heroes.” Read more here…

Larbert Schoolgirl Impresses Army Musicians

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Schoolgirl Leila McPhate had her rap recorded by Army musicians after they were impressed by her efforts.

The 12-year-old Larbert High pupil wrote The World is a Dark Place for international arts competition Never Such Innocence, which gives children and young people a voice on conflict.

Leila had learned at school how people from the Caribbean were invited to the UK to help it rebuild after WWII but frequently faced injustice and discrimination. After seeing the black British artist Dave on the Brit Awards she decided to address the issue with a rap

Read more…

Young Greek Wins First Place in World Poetry Competition

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Young Dimosthenis Dimitrios Despotidis who hails from Andros has won Never Such Innocence foundation’s 2019/2020 ‘Impact of Conflict on Communities’ competition.

The Never Such Innocence foundation in collaboration with The British Council chose the theme of A Fight for Freedom, asking participants to “highlight the contributions made by the countries of the Commonwealth in Africa and the Caribbean during the Second World War” through a poem, speech, song or piece of artwork…..

https://neoskosmos.com/en/169216/young-greek-wins-first-place-in-world-poetry-competition/

Ex-Ogun Deputy Gov’s Daughter Wins Global Art Competition

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Mariam Ayolola Kaka, a 15-yearold student of Olabisi Onabanjo University International School, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, has emerged the overall winner of a global art competition. The winner, who is the daughter of a former deputy governor of the state, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, came tops amongst over 4,000 participants in the competition organised by a charity group, Never Such Innocence. Never Such Innocence runs an international poetry, art, speech and song competition for young people aged 9 -16, focusing on conflict and its impact. Kaka’s entry titled, “Nostalgic salutation to fallen heroes” received applause from the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson…..

https://www.newtelegraphng.com/ex-ogun-deputy-govs-daughter-wins-global-art-competition/

Preston Teen Artist Katie is World Class

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The 14-year-old is a pupil at Archbishop Temple School in Fulwood, and was one of hundreds of youngsters across the world to enter the poetry, art, speech and song competition run by charity Never Such Innocence.

The competition, which focuses on conflict and its impact, is open to young people around the world aged from nine to 18.

Katie's' pencil drawing of three young boys wearing gas masks wowed judges and scooped firsdt place in her age group……

https://www.lep.co.uk/education/preston-teen-artist-katie-world-class-2888227