Showing Courage in Liverpool
COURAGE to Care NSW has unveiled its latest exhibition in Liverpool, which brings with it four new initiatives ensuring the program continues to deliver its messages of tolerance into the future.
An initiative of B’nai B’rith, Courage to Care is a touring exhibition aimed at promoting racial tolerance, harmony, understanding and ethical values, particularly to young people.
“The Courage to Care exhibition pays homage to those exceptional people who put their lives at risk to rescue Jews and other minorities during the Holocaust,” explained chairman of Courage to Care NSW Andrew Havas at last Thursday’s launch. “Our program has relevance for everyone. It challenges our thinking and our perceptions and has the potential to change our behaviour,” he said.
More than 2000 local school students will participate in the core educational program at Liverpool library over the coming weeks.
New to the program is the Living Book initiative, where Holocaust survivors are present to deliver their stories.
Courage to Care curator Rachel Mensforth explained that the borrower simply books in a time to hear a chapter of a survivor’s personal story. “It’s important we continually look at how we communicate with our audiences so we can share the story of Holocaust survivors – for today’s generation and future ones,” she said.
What is Harmony to You? is another new initiative, allowing young library patrons to draw what harmony means to them, with some of the results shown as part of the exhibition.
Talking Books, another new aspect, sees authors of well-known children’s books present readings followed by a Q&A session. Book selections are in line with Courage to Care’s core values.
Finally, for the first time, some panels of the exhibition feature QR codes, which enable stories to be brought to life via video, audio, or plain text on a smartphone.
Present to open the exhibition were Liverpool City Mayor Ned Mannoun and Federal Member for Fowler Chris Hayes. “Courage to Care encourages young people to make a stand against injustice and to be part of shaping our community for the future,” Hayes told The AJN.
As is tradition for each exhibition, an ordinary member of the local community who acts in extraordinary ways for others was honoured. Nadine Costantini, a tireless community development worker currently working with Headspace, took home the local hero award for Liverpool.
The exhibition runs until April 12. For more information, visit www.couragetocare.com.au or phone (02) 9321 6300.
PHOEBE ROTH
From left: Manager of Liverpool Library and Museum Services David Sharman, Chris Hayes MP, chairman of Courage to Care NSW Andrew Havas OAM, Liverpool City Mayor Ned Mannoun. Photo: Ben Williams
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