Holocaust Memorial Day Service - St Peter Mancroft Norwich - 28 January

St Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich is holding a service of remembrance for the Holocaust at 11am on Monday 28 January.

Holocaust Memorial Day marks the day Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated from the terror of the Holocaust during World War II. Holocaust Memorial Day also commemorate subsequent Genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

The Lord Mayor of Norwich, Councillor Ralph Gayton, who will welcome people to the service at St Peter Mancroft, said: "As well as remembering the horror of the Holocaust, this service will also give us opportunity to consider its relevance in our society today.

"We all have a responsibility in our communities to promote equal respect - regardless of age, origin or belief - and our society is built on understanding that all individuals are of equal worth. Let us remember our duty and vow to always speak out against discrimination."

"The theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day is ‘build a bridge’, which emphasises the need for us to show respect to others, connect with others and reject the hatred that resulted in genocide."

The service is organised on behalf of the City of Norwich by the Council of Christians and Jews. It will be led by Mr Alex Bennett, Vice-Chair of the local Council of Christians and Jews and Minister of the Norwich Hebrew Congregation, with Bishop David Gillett, Assistant Bishop and Interfaith Adviser in the Diocese of Norwich.

Prayers will be led by members of the Jewish and Christian communities.

Illuminée Nganemariya is new Patron of UK Rwandan Charity Engalynx

Illuminée Nganemariya, whose book Miracle in Kigali, the Rwandan Genocide a survivor's journey, was published by the Tagman Press in 2007, has become a Patron of Engalynx, a UK based charity that has been helping orphans in Rwanda since 1998.

Engalynx founder Maralyn Bambridge has embarked on an exciting project to raise money to build a new health centre at Ntunga in the Mwulire Sector, Rwamagana District (Eastern Province) Rwanda. Mwulire Sector residents currently have to walk 22 miles to another sector for medical care.

The estimated cost for the whole project is £365,000. The Health Centre will be built section by section; so far enough funds have been raised to create a much-needed Maternity Unit.

Illuminée Nganemariya said: “Maralyn Bambridge has embarked on a wonderful project, which I am pleased to support. My father’s brothers used to live near Ntunga and I still have family in the area. I will be working with Maralyn on fundraising events and The Tagman Press will be giving a donation from sales of my book.”

Maralyn Bambridge said: “I am both honoured and delighted that Illuminée has agreed to become a Patron of Engalynx. Her book, Miracle in Kigali, is her personal story of her life in Rwanda prior to, during and following the 1994 Genocide.  How she survived and, indeed, gave birth to her son in desperate circumstances, is the miracle of the book.  Whilst not whitewashing what happened, it is not a horrific book, but is full of hope and, at times, amazing kindness.”

“I am sure that Illuminee will be a great asset to Engalynx and I am really looking forward to working with this great lady, raising funds for Rwanda and introducing her to as many of our friends as I can.”

The Tagman Press will donate £2 from purchases of Miracle in Kigali made at www.tagmanpress.com.

For more information about Engalynx see www.ukvbuilder.co.uk/sites/engalynx, or follow Engalynx on Facebook.