In My Pocket Project Expands to 20 British Schools

The history program for children aged nine to 11 uses personal narratives to explain the Kindertransport experience.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Pre-Teens

In My Pocket Project Expands to 20 British Schools

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A new partnership between the WE ARE HERE! Foundation and PaJeS is bringing the In My Pocket Project to more than 20 British schools. The program aims to educate children aged nine to 11 about the Kindertransport.

Why it matters

This expansion provides students with a personal, history-based educational experience centered on the experiences of those who navigated the Kindertransport. It brings a global educational initiative to more British classrooms to reach the next generation.

The project serves students aged nine to 11 and has reached 10,000 pupils since 2023. The new expansion adds over 20 British schools to the program, which is already active in nations including Australia, South Africa, and Mexico.

The players

WE ARE HERE! Foundation

An educational organization founded by Eli and Jill Rabinowitz that focuses on preserving and sharing stories from the Kindertransport era.

PaJeS

A British educational organization that supports schools through the development of curriculum resources and teaching initiatives.

The details

The In My Pocket Project is built around the autobiographical picture book of the same name by Dorrith M. Sim and Gerald Fitzgerald. Educators affiliated with PaJeS use the story of Sim, who arrived in Britain at age seven via the Kindertransport in 1939 to live with a foster family in Edinburgh, to guide lessons. This narrative-based approach helps pre-teens explore complex historical themes through a relatable, personal perspective.

July 1939: Dorrith M. Sim arrived in Britain on the Kindertransport.
2023: The program reached its initial milestone of 10,000 students.

The Home Front

This program aligns with a growing global trend of using personal, autobiographical narratives to teach difficult historical events to younger children. It moves away from generalized textbook descriptions to foster empathy through individual stories.

Parents of children aged nine to 11 in the UK may see this curriculum introduced in their local schools through PaJeS-affiliated teachers. You can ask your child's educators if they plan to incorporate the In My Pocket Project into their upcoming history or literature studies.

The takeaway

Using picture books as a primary historical source can be an effective way to help pre-teens develop empathy and understand the past. You can explore this by checking out the book In My Pocket by Dorrith M. Sim and Gerald Fitzgerald with your child to discuss their history class topics.