Dame Helen Hyde DBE

It’s the weekend let’s look at the beauty around us. Let’s stop moaning , criticising and complaining. It only results in a cynical and blame searching society. Let’s try to look for good in people, let’s try to take responsibility for our own actions, behaviour and words. Many people are really struggling and need support, help and encouragement. In spite of all the difficulties there is so much beauty around and joy , small and large . Let’s enjoy it but let’s also do our best to take responsibility for slowing the spread of the virus. Wear a mask, don’t meet in big groups . Don’t expect to be told what to do - we have been told . Stay safe , protect those around you and enjoy the beauty.

Life is richer It amazes me how much richer my life has become since this awful, disruptive and sad lockdown. First and most importantly my family, my friends and I are well. I have said the lavender looks really good this year BUT I am not at all sure I looked at lavender last year!Three or four times a week I walk in fields and forests surrounding Radlett and Bushey at least 12 km . So much more pleasurable than going to the gym 4 times a week!! I have seen the season cha...nged, the farmers' crops growing and being harvested. I have taken beautiful photos of flowers, trees and pathways. I walk and listen to wonderful classical music, some of which I knew little - Weber, Dukas, Hummel, choral music such as St Mathews Passion and operas. I have made blankets for Rwanda and Zimbabwe. We have managed to send a shipment of mama packs, clothes and food to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. I have read interesting books,novels but mainly non fiction. I have read and explained novels to my eldest granddaughter. I have read to my grandson and heard the twins read their books. My art education has improved thanks to the the Tate, the Royal Academy and the National Gallery. I have listened to webinars and taken part in zoom discussions. I have had time to work with the educators at the National Holocaust Centre and Museum and HET. Dedicated determined colleagues who want to make a really difference to education and our future society. What I miss - hugging my daughters and my grandchildren ! I am blessed with what I have . See more

Rwandan Sisterhood update Thank you to all who helped us raise approximately 3000. We are now supporting over 100 families in Kigali, Rwanda and 50 families in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. In Kigali one young girl of 12 was raped and haas had a baby. Unfortunately she is has many special needs and is not aware that she has a baby. We are providing milk and other foodstuffs for her and the newborn. I am so very grateful to the ladies in Kigali and Bulawayo for all they do to suppor...t these families during this very difficult time. Yesterday I received a donation of 68 hand made quilts for babies cots and many other knitted items for babies and young children. Thank you, Dot, and all the ladies that sew and knit for you. Thank you to those of you who have put non perishable food items at my garage door. As soon as the borders open we will send a shipment to Zimbabwe. Please do keep the donations flowing. You can make a real difference. See more

Thanking the NHS - this has been produced by my 9 year granddaughter

SUPPORTING AFRICAN FAMILIES DURING THIS PANDEMIC- the Rwandan Sisterhood is asking for donations to support starving families in Kigali, Rwanda and Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. We are trying to give food to the poorest families who are in lockdown with little access to food or clean water. 10 feeds a family of 4 for two weeks. If you are able to make a donation, no matter how small it is will make an enormous difference. Please make your donations in the following way- reference: RSA and your name. HSBC sort code 40-45-27; account number 92147394. We have managed to support 38 families so far. PLEASE MAKE A DIFFERENCE.THANK YOU.

Exclusivity of a particular religion- I hear a lot about how one religion is more important, more correct etc than another. Martin Buber, a an early 20th century philosopher, wrote the following, "All men have access to God, but each man has a different access. Mankind's greatest chance lies precisely in the unlikeness of men , in the unlikeness of their qualities and inclinations. God's all inclusiveness manifests itself in the infinite multiplicity of the ways that lead t...o Him, each of which is open to one man. ........'What sort of God would that be who has only one way in which He can be served. God does not say:'This way Leads to Me and That does not', but he says : 'Whatever you do may be a way to Me, provided you do it in such a manner that it leads you to me." At this time and where we are all, whatever the type of lockdown or self isolation we find ourselves we can positive, we can show understanding, respect and care for each other. We can be less cynical and less critical. See more

Thinking of my dear Muslim friends at this time of Ramadan - my thoughts, best wishes for good health and prayers are with you.

Passover, Easter and this time for all my Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindi friends and friends without a religion- I wish you all health and happiness at this time. It is a time to pray and to be thoughtful. We need to think of the PM and all those who are ill, we need to think of those who are struggling with the lockdown in the shanty towns around the world. I wish you all Chag sameach , happy Easter and peace and good health.

Passover and Easter will be hard, sad and difficult for many people. It is a time to be with family, friends and loved ones. My thoughts and prayers are for you all. I pray that whatever your religion, or if you no religion that you, your family and friends are kept safe and well. Following the government guidelines, thinking of others is vital now. Let’s try to remain positive, try to care for one another even if only with words and look around us and try to see the beauty that surrounds us.

The International Day Award I received is for all the teachers I have worked with and all the wonderful African ladies who do so much! They really get their hands dirty and help those in real need. Thank you all and please keep being an upstander and take action to improve the life chances of others

International Women’s Day 2020- today was a very special day for me. Hilda Shava, my dear Zimbabwean friend , nominated me for an award. The glittering event was organised by the V2V Church . The women were all focussed and determined to make a difference and to leave the world in a better place. I am honoured to be part of this wonderful, warm and giving community. The Rwandan Sisterhood works in Rwanda and Zimbabwe and very soon we will extend our projects to South Africa. The afternoon was spent with my granddaughter - she packed many mama packs . My husband also volunteered his help.

Budapest - The Foundation for Jewish Heritage (I am the chair of the Board and Michael Mail is the the CEO) was a partner at the the conference on the Preservation of Jewish Cemeteries in Europe. It was organised by ESJI (European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative ) and Centropa. We were able to visit the Dohany synagogue and museum with the museum curator who explained her vision for the exciting developments. We then were permitted to visited the newly refurbished breathtakingl...y magnificent Rumbach synagogue. Centropa explained their educational programmes all based on testimonies and photos and all recorded in situ. These programmes are used in many Eastern European countries - they have trained many teachers and aim to train the following this year- Croatia 50, Georgia 25, Hungary 300, Lithuania 175, Poland 300, Slovakia 350, Ukraine 600. The main mission of ESJI is to fence around as many cemeteries as they possibly can in order to protect and preserve them . They have surveyed by drone vast areas shown in red in the map below. They work with local stakeholders and real cemetery experts. They too have developed educational programmes. Our Foundation is excited to be able to partner these two organisations to protect and preserve Jewish heritage sites to educate future generations in the diversity and richness of the history of the various communities. See more

Rwandan Sisterhood is being supported by 21 people joining me in Kigali. We work in very deprived areas trying to improve the lives of the women and their children. On arrival we spent the morning sorting through the aid we had brought - 234 mama packs, 207 hand knitted blankets, as well as other items for the feeding project (clothes and money to buy food) and for the nursery reading schemes, reading books, pencils, games, puzzles, toys paints, chalk boards, clothes, footbal...Continue reading

Onam annual celebration- we we warmly invited to this event in Watford.The dancing and the presentations were exciting and it was encouraging to see how many young people were there enjoying themselves with their families. We learnt a lot about Kerala - the customs and the delicious food! The community are looking for ways to help and support our work with the Rwandan Sisterhood, Supporting African Women.