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Veterans History Project
| Name | Alta Mae Marvin | | Situation | The drops out rates in South Carolina are catastrophic and in Colleton County they are reaching 47%. As these students mature and enter the workforce they are not equipped with the skills to have a positive impact on economic develop. In 1999, statistics indicate that 55% of dropouts age 25 had no income; those with an income earned $15,334 compared to 25 year olds with a high school diploma or GED who made $29,294. The
pressures of modern life, where families are scattered and no longer close and single parent households trying to balance parenting and financial pressures often lead to social and behavioral problems among young people. These young people need positive role models and influences in their lives. | | Response | As part of the Youth Leadership/Dropout Prevention Program we engaged the youth participants in a Service Learning Project that matched the youth participants with local veterans. Before beginning the project, students participated in team building and leadership training. As their service learning project, the students were partnered with the American Folklife
Center at the Library of Congress collecting and preserving audio and video oral histories, along with documentary material of America’s war veterans. The Veterans History Project covers World War I, World War II, the Korean, Vietnam and Persian Gulf Wars. It includes all participants in those wars men and women, civilian and military. This project honors our nation’s war veterans and those who served in support of them. The youth participants worked in teams to: learn how to ask relevant questions, prepare questions for the interview, meet with the Veterans and conduct the interview, and transcribe and summarize the interviews. | | Impact | The Veterans History Project impacted the youth participants and the 43 veterans who agreed to be interviewed. Ninety-three percent of the students feel they benefited from the interviews with 90% indicating they will be able to use the interview skills in talking with their teachers. Ninety seven percent learned new information about history and our country’s wars and would like to conduct other interviews. Ninety percent showed increased knowledge of the importance of civic engagement and community service. The interview skills meet South Carolina Department of Education middle school standards. One hundred percent of the veterans reported a positive experience with the youth participants
and valued their interaction. |
Last update5/9/2008
This website is maintained by Amy West.
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