The project is now complete but below is an account from teachers and students who were involved.

It wasn't always easy, as teachers and students battled with access to the internet, computer labs and even electricity, but in their own way, each school found a way to further their understanding of slavery, both past and present.

As a teacher, finding new and engaging ways to bring a topic to life can be a real challenge, which is why Make the Link, Break the Chain was so refreshing. Students could navigate their way round the site, learning as they went. And as the students learnt more and produced more work, the site grew!

Some teachers in Liverpool used the project as a way of giving training and NQT teachers a structured and interesting series of lessons to work with. One training teacher successfully encouraged his class to enter into a debate about freedom, before his students performed an engaging role-play.

In Brazil, the Portuguese/English language barrier was overcome using translators in a co-ordinated effort both in the Plan UK office and at Plan Brazil. Students typed emails in their hometown of Recife, which were translated on the spot and sent around the world to others using the Gemin-i system.

Teachers in Senegal encouraged their students to benefit from this unique way to communicate and learn from others, which was reflected in the quality of their work.

In Haiti, students travelled out to the Plan Country Office to take advantage of their internet facilities, whilst the teacher in Sierra Leone adopted a completely different approach. When the internet connection and power supply took it in turns to disconnect, an alternative had to be found. Plan staff printed out the resources and took them to the school. As the students completed their work, we input it onto the system for them, so everyone was able to benefit from their involvement.

What students said

¿Making our own site has been most fun, because you get to take control, and let other people know who you are and what you¿re like.¿
Vicky, Year 9 student, Liverpool

¿I¿ve spoken to someone from Brazil. They said they liked my pages. I¿d put stuff up that I like ¿ football and cars.¿
Mike, Year 7 student, Liverpool

¿They tell you about their school and where they live and what kind of music they like.¿
Laura, Year 8 student, Liverpool

¿I might be able to go and meet them in real life ¿ it¿s good ¿ you learn stuff about them.¿
Steven, Year 7 student, Liverpool

¿When we started, we were talking about what is slavery, and how the slaves were maltreated¿ Now we¿re making a film about slavery.¿ 
Sofia, Year 9 student, Liverpool

Four schools were involved in the Anti-Slavery Project in Liverpool:
New Heys Community School
Shorefields Technical College
De La Salle School
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School