The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is one of the greatest and most enduring achievements of the United Nations. On Friday, December 8, the students of “the No. 2 school” took part in the Letter-Writing Marathon under the slogan: “Write a Letter. Change Someone’s Life.” People’s freedom around the world is under threat. Activists are arrested for expressing their beliefs. Protesters are tortured and unlawfully imprisoned. In 2016, we helped, among others, 10-year-old Anna from Malawi, who has albinism; political prisoners in Azerbaijan; Ivo from Cameroon, sentenced to 10 years in prison for sending an SMS; and many others in need of help.
– Our letters put pressure on the authorities, but they also show support and solidarity with the men and women who are the heroes of the Marathon. This year, we managed to write 352 letters, which will be sent to the embassies of the countries that are in turn obliged to forward the letters they receive to the governments of their respective countries – says Beata Orczyk, a history and civics teacher and the organizer of Human Rights Week at Municipal Gymnasium No. 2. – We deeply believe that our collective letters, words and actions – those of PEOPLE OF GOODWILL – around the world will force decision-makers in individual countries to take steps aimed at respecting human rights, and that prisoners of conscience will be released. More people from different continents will be able to live normal lives.
On December 12, the school auditorium hosted a spoken-and-musical performance prepared by students from classes III d, III e, II d and II e, dedicated to human rights and tolerance. It was inspired by the famous words spoken by Marek Edelman: “Hatred is easy, love requires effort and sacrifice.”