Reflections-Oral History Project

The Triangle Nonprofit and Volunteer Leadership Center (TNVLC) and the Durham Partnership for Seniors (DPFS) are collaborating to create "Reflections--Oral History Project." This project would connect students with older adults, and through interviews, the seniors would share their stories and history.

Both organizations are uniquely positioned to be able to successfully implement this project and address several needs. DPFS is a coalition of 40 service providers and community volunteers focused on improving the lives of older adults in Durham. TNVLC mobilizes volunteers and supports nonprofits, operating the largest volunteer database in the Triangle assisting more than 1,200. TNVLC also engages hundreds of students throughout the Triangle- last year these students served more than 30,000 hours.

The focus of this project would enable students to interact with older adults, who particularly during this pandemic, are feeling isolated and inactive. Students would interview the older adults, giving them an opportunity to tell their stories/share their history. A finished “memory book”, including photos, would be produced and given to the interviewee. (There may be opportunities to later expand this project to include video recording, but the initial launch would focus on creating a printed booklet.)

Project Objectives

• Older adults would have a chance to socialize and feel less isolated.

• It would create intergenerational connections, bridging a gap between younger people and senior adults.

• Students would develop an appreciation for older adults as well as hearing history and understanding history though a very personal lens (many might have very interesting and unique experiences to share).

• Students would be able to accrue volunteer hours to use towards both the Mayor’s and Commissioner’s Awards as well as hours needed for their school requirements. (Of note: current public health concerns have created barriers and limited the number of volunteer opportunities available for students—this project creates additional opportunities.)

• Students will be trained on interview techniques, which will develop their communication skills.

• A “Memory Book” will be created, including stories, remembrances, and photos, and then given to the older adults as a meaningful keepsake.

Due to COVID restrictions, the project would develop guidelines and adhere to safety measures to protect both the older adults, students, other volunteers and staff. We envision tactics such as front porch chats, outdoor venues or indoor open spaces that will allow social distancing as well as the provision of PPE. We also might need to do the interviews virtually or by phone.

We plan to launch the program on a small scale (8-10 students) then ramp up as we recruit and train more students and identify additional older adults. We envision students conducting the interviews in pairs, which also might help lessen some of the initial awkwardness, fostering a relaxed approach as well as providing a more efficient process for discussions and transcription.