A group of international students at Derby College have written a book about their memories of home for a local book festival.

The group of 28, who all study the college’s Lexis intensive language programme, officially launched their book, entitled ‘Stories from Home, Journeys of Hope’, at the third annual Derby Book Festival.

Three of the students whose stories are featured in the book, read out extracts at the launch, including 18-year-old Silvania Teixeria (pictured left), who shared a tale of being attacked by a dog near to the Cape Verdean village where she grew up.

The Derby Book Festival has now officially published the students’ book, which is on sale for £3, and has been illustrated by art and design students at Derby College.

Derby College’s chief executive, Mandie Stravino, said: “We are extremely proud of our students who have worked incredibly hard to produce this book – sharing personal experiences in life which have had a profound impact on them.

“The Lexis students arrived in the UK at various intervals during the last few years. Many have little prior knowledge of English and a few had had no previous formal education.”