The University of South Carolina Beaufort is working with St. Helena Elementary School on an oral history project that will capture the stories of sixteen alumni of the school. The oral histories will be used to create a podcast series that will look at the evolution of St. Helena Island Schools from their beginning through the present. The podcast will launch in mid-May 2025. SC Humanities supported this project with a Mini Grant.
This initiative aims to connect students with the legacy of their community while equipping them with valuable media and storytelling skills. 5th grade students will participate in the project as interviewers and will assist with recording intros and outros for the podcast. The project will result in a series of podcast episodes that capture the evolution of St. Helena schools from their inception to the present day. This project not only preserves the voices of St. Helena Island’s educational history but also fosters intergenerational learning, cultivates student creativity, and strengthens the community’s connection to its heritage.
The schools on St. Helena Island reflect the island’s distinct cultural and historical identity, shaped by its Gullah-Geechee roots and its unique place in the history of African American education in the South. The “Voices of St. Helena Island Schools” project ensures that these narratives are preserved in their authentic form for future generations.
The podcast is expected to release around May 15, 2025.
USCB’s Communication Studies program helps students develop skills in oral and written communication, interpersonal communication, teamwork and multi-media environments. Learn more.
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c)3 organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos, and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually. South Carolina Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors. The National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
Image courtesy of University of South Carolina Beaufort
