COMMUNITY STORYTELLING PROJECT
Typically, this kind of letter might be sent out from a school to the elders of the neighbourhood

LOCAL STORYTELLING PROJECT - NOTE FOR ELDERS This is a project aimed at getting youngsters talking and listening with their elders. Everyone knows that when young and elderly people come together something magical happens whereby the young people feel free and happy to listen, and the older people experience a joy in the sharing and passing on of their tales and stories. In__________________some boys and girls from________________________will be working on a new sort of storytelling project. On some dates, which we will sort out with you beforehand (if you choose to help with this), a small number of boys and girls will visit you. They will have been divided up into groups of about three or four and, in these groups, their job will be to collect stories of all kinds from the elders of their community - YOU! Not just stories, either - jokes, riddles, puzzles, rhymes, chants, raps, too . . . in fact, anything that can be passed on by word of mouth. And, don’t worry; there will be a teacher nearby, if one is needed. Either we will arrange for the children to visit you in your own home, place of residence or Centre - at an agreed time - or, if you prefer, we will arrange for you to be brought into school to talk to the children. We really hope you’ll feel like helping us with this idea - if you don’t, there’ll be no project because there’ll be no elders for the children to listen to! It’s easier to do than it sounds really because you need only talk with the children for about half an hour, or so, telling them your stories experiences. Maybe, even less than that, it’s not that important . . .just so long as they hear a few tales and stories from your lips. I imagine they’ll probably want to ask questions but it won’t be an interview, or anything like that. The idea is simply for you to tell your one set of stories to three or four different groups. And, that’s all. You just tell the same stories, each time, to each different group as you meet them. (It might be fun to get the children to make up titles for your stories). When they have gathered a collection of stories from you and other elders, the children will put on a performance (with your permission, of course) You, yourself, will naturally be invited as guest of honour. TO HELP YOU DECIDE WHAT TALES YOU WANT TO TELL, AND TO HELP JOG YOUR MEMORY, WE HAVE MADE A LIST OF THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF STORIES JUST ABOUT EVERYONE KNOWS. IF YOU READ IT, I BET THE IDEAS WILL COME FLOODING IN! Please do it with us . . . it’s sure to be special. You’ll have a great time - and so will the youngsters. And, of course, we’ll have a chat about it, first. And, I’ll see to the organising.