SURVIVORS of genocide, Holocaust and civil war will tell poignant stories of their experiences of human suffering.

The Untold Stories event will be at Dewsbury Town Hall as part of Holocaust Memorial Day on Wednesday and in Calderdale the next day.

The day of commemoration is about remembering the victims and people whose lives have been changed beyond recognition following the Holocaust, Nazi persecution other genocides and human rights abuses.

Iby Knill, a Holocaust survivor and writer, will remember her time in an Auschwitz concentration camp and the persecution and death faced by members of her family.

Dili Diey, a former child soldier from Sudan, will join fellow refugees Patrice Dlamini, from Zimbabwe, and Jean Marie Mieze, from The Democratic Republic of the Congo, to tell stories of modern day atrocities.

All three had to flee from their countries because of the threat of violence or death.

Local youngsters from Batley Girls High School, the Community Science College at Thornhill, Moor End Technology College and Royds Hall High School will lead the event.

The pupils have been learning about the lives of children caught up in the violence of modern day conflicts – particularly those forced into fighting as child soldiers.

The pupils will be launching their campaign Millennium Child: Books Not Bullets to highlight the injustice faced by child soldiers throughout the world.

Clr Mary Harkin, Cabinet member for communities and leisure, said: “This event marks a day which is tremendously important for us to commemorate.

“It is only by taking action that we can make a difference and it is clear these young people have worked hard to bring to the attention of others the plight of the child soldiers.’’

Throughout the evening there will be music from an Eastern European Jewish community Klezmer band and singers Annie Dearman and Steve Harrison.

Untold Stories was developed by Kirklees Museums and Galleries working in partnership with local schools, CAMPAIGN! Make An Impact, Kirklees Faith Forum, Holocaust Survivors’ Friendship Association, Community Groups and Huddersfield Art Gallery.

Untold Stories is a free event at Dewsbury Town Hall at 7.15pm on January 26. No booking is required.

The following day it will move to the Victoria Theatre in Halifax at 7pm and will feature Iby again along with Roben Mutwira, from Zimbabwe, and Kongosi Mussanzi, from the Congo.

Organiser Viviana Archer-Todde said: “In these troubling economic times it is important to reiterate the message that hate and resentment can only lead to greater hate and resentment.

“We have not learned from the past, so these annual events are reminders that people are still being murdered now because of political or economic turmoil.”

Free tickets are available from 01422 351158.