Case study: 'My Voice' books for the Association of Jewish Refugees

The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR) is a national charity which provides support to refugees from the Holocaust and their families who live in Great Britain.

Published books at the launch in London (photo by Adam Soller Photography)

I’ve been honoured to work with them since 2018 on a growing library of books which record the oral history of children who escaped Germany through the Kindertransport - the name given to the mission which took thousands of children to safety ahead of World War Two. Volunteers collaborate with people who wish to tell their story and collect their words and photos.

Debra contacted me two years ago to ask for a concept design for a book, using the story of George Vulkan as the first publication. The design makes the most of the precious photos which have travelled miles, may have been crumpled and show a history of their own. Pull quotes are designed to illustrate the pages and highlight important parts of the story. We have included family trees and poetry too, all designed with care to the story and the people who share it.

These powerful, first-person accounts begin their own story as words recorded by dedicated volunteers. The transcripts are managed by a talented team within the charity through the editorial and design process before being printed in hard back volumes. Sometimes the words arrive with very few photos and what there is, isn’t always good quality so another practical challenge has been guiding the team through scanning in good quality photos and we’ve explored libraries and museums for image together.

I wrote an article recently about removing a narrative by over-editing photos, and it’s this project I had in mind when advising caution. It’s instinctively knowing when to make subtle repairs to precious photos which tell their own story. That fingerprint that may look messy on an image, could have personal significance. One particularly moving book presented a problem as the author had no photos of his family at all, just his father’s watch.

I’m amazed by the volunteers who have to carefully encourage people to share painful memories and the work of Debra and Naomi who give so much love and care to these books. It’s a privilege to work with them. Debra is also a published author and I do encourage you to read her debut novel , The Young Survivors, a story of a family’s escape from the Holocaust, inspired by her mother’s experiences.

I had the honour of attending the book launch in 201. I was able to meet some of these incredible people about whom I know so much. Whilst some wondered why their stories were in print, nobody underestimated the importance of the words. Most memorably for me was the words of a daughter of one author who told me how much joy the book had brought to the family and how the design made an emotional tale easier to read. It’s a testimonial that meant more than any other.

Since that launch, the project has grown and it’s incredibly rewarding. Each one educates and moves me, and always an honour to design them.

Do head over to the AJR website where you can find out more.

We have relied heavily on Berenice’s design skills and have received fantastic results. She is a trusted member of our team who always keeps us well informed of her progress. She is exceptionally efficient, whilst giving attention to detail. Her friendly, approachable disposition is an added bonus. She is a true asset to our book project.