As part of Holocaust Memorial Day this year, young people from Extern showcased a short Headliners film called 'Why War?' that they had produced about war, racism and the refugee crisis.

The screening took place on Wednesday January 24, 2018 and was billed by Derry and Strabane District Council as the 'inaugural precursor event'  to the main Holocaust Memorial Day event held in Derry's Millenium Forum on Thursday January 25, 2018.

It was held in the Holywell Trust building in Derry/Londonderry and was attended by parents, carers, community representatives, youth workers, council representatives and members of the public.

To create this film, 6 young journalists from Headliners had the priviledge of interviewing Holocaust Survivor Dr Martin Stern M.B.E. in October 2017 while he was touring schools in the Northwest giving talks to young people about his experiences. The interview in their film was conducted with Dr Stern during a public address in St. Augustine's church in Derry/Londonderry during his educational schools tour.

The young people had the honour of hearing him again when they attended the largest Holocasut Memorial Day event in the British Isles in the Millenium Forum in Derry. The event, which was chaired by UTV's Paul Clark, was designed to commemorate victims of all genocide and atrocities worldwide. It featured; music, prayer, poetry, testimonies and reflection.

Why War can be viewed in our story pages here as can another film A Refugee Like Me which was created by the same group. This second film also includes highlights from Dr Stern's interview with the Extern young people.

This Headliners Foyle project was funded by Big Lottery as part of their Voices for Change Programme.