What is the Local Voices Book Project?
Local Voices is an innovative local-studies project, aimed at capturing a snapshot of the locality’s recent-history and current-geography with a view to deepening the students’ connection to their homeplace.
Over a period of approximately three months, students will identify persons in their community who are of interest. The students then interview them, transcribe the interviews, draw colourful and interesting excerpts from the interviews, and take photos; before collating them into a pre-planned selection of individual articles for the school’s very own printed publication.
What do we mean by recent-history and current-geography?
The persons interviewed should be persons from the locality, who have first-hand experience of historical events in the locality.
The interviewees should also include persons who are new to the locality, so as to give a snapshot in time of the contemporary locality too.
Why would a school do Local Voices?
Student Learning: Undertaking Local Voices is an innovative, inquiry-based learning experience. It is an exciting and active way for students to learn about their locality and develop a sense of citizenship, pride and attachment.
The rigour of the project promotes learning in Literacy, Visual Arts and SPHE, while the methodology of the project promotes childrens’ agency and voice.
What’s Invoved?
Participating schools will follow a tailored plan, set out by the publisher, to take them through the process, both simply and effectively.
The Process
How is the project funded?
The minimum print-run for your own publication at the end of the project is 400 copies. For a 100-page A4 book, these will cost €17 each (prices decrease the higher the print order), a total cost of €6,800.
This can be covered by the school (50% payable at the start of the project and 50% three weeks before print) and recouped through sales to parents (guideline €25 per copy).
Additionally, local advertising sold into the publication can also see significant profit raised for your school.