Poetic expression of Human Rights at Stockport Grammar
Budding poets had their work published as part of a landmark initiative to help celebrate the Declaration of Human Rights.
The first Greater Manchester Poetic Declaration of Human Rights was created by students from across the area in a bid to highlight the importance of the original document – which was created in 1948.
The Greater Manchester declaration was put together in collaboration between the Robert F Kennedy Foundation for Human Rights and Curious Minds, a creative charity.
SGS pupils were tasked with creating poetry based on one of the 30 declarations which was then compiled in a book – something Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, hopes will encourage equality across the region.
Of the 30 poems that appeared in the book, five of those were written by SGS English and Drama pupils; George Hammond, Jess Wiggetts, Alex Powrie, Mia Forvargue and Arthur Wolstenholme – which was the most from any contributor.
The pupils attended an online launch event for the declaration and were congratulated by the Director of the Robert F Kennedy Foundation, Sughra Ahmed, and Andy Burnham – Mayor of Manchester.
Those whose poem was chosen also received feedback from the judges.
Director of Drama, Mr Matt King-Sayce and English teacher, Mrs Rebecca Walsh supported the pupils in the project. Mrs Walsh said: “It was a pleasure to work with pupils from First, Second and Third Year as they explored and discussed their ideas about Human Rights.
“The pupils worked hard to create thought-provoking, imaginative poems inspired by the Human Right that mattered the most to them.”
