Global Pen Pals

Awareness & Understanding

Imagine getting a letter from a kid your age in Kenya, Brazil, or Vietnam. What would you even say? Before you write your first letter, explore what daily life looks like for young people around the world. Watch the YouTube channel "Nas Daily" — short videos showing real people in real countries. Browse GlobalYouthConnect.org or the iEARN network (iearn.org), which connects students across 140 countries. Think about what you genuinely want to know: What do they eat? What music do they like? What worries them? Curiosity is the whole foundation here. You're ready for the next step when you can name three countries you'd love to hear from and write five questions you'd genuinely ask a pen pal there.

Research & Investigation

Pick your top one or two countries and learn about them for real — not just capitals and flags. Use the CIA World Factbook (cia.gov/the-world-factbook) for fast facts, then go deeper with YouTube travel vlogs or the subreddit for that country (like r/Brazil or r/Kenya). Look at how kids your age actually live: school schedules, popular sports, local foods, and current events. Also research how pen pal programs work. Check out PenPal World (penpalworld.com), Students of the World (studentsoftheworld.info), or ask your school if they participate in iEARN projects. You're ready for the next step when you can describe daily life for a typical teen in your chosen country and explain how you plan to connect with a pen pal there.

Planning & Preparation

Now set up your pen pal connection. If your school uses iEARN or a similar program, work with your teacher to get matched. If you're going independently, create a safe, school-approved profile on PenPal Schools (penpalschools.com) — always follow your family's online safety rules. Draft your first letter or message: introduce yourself, Salt Lake City, and your life here. Mention the Great Salt Lake, the mountains, skiing, or whatever you love. Make it specific — generic letters get generic replies. Ask two or three real questions. Have a parent or teacher read it before you send. You're ready for the next step when you have a drafted first message ready to send and a confirmed way to connect with a pen pal.

Taking Action

Send your first message and start the conversation. When your pen pal replies, read it carefully and write back within a week — consistency matters. Go beyond surface stuff: share something honest about your life in Utah, and ask follow-up questions based on what they said. Try sending something creative — a drawing, a photo of your neighborhood, or a short video if the platform allows. Keep a folder or journal of all your exchanges. Aim for at least three back-and-forth messages during this phase. You're ready for the next step when you have exchanged at least three messages with your pen pal and can describe at least three real differences and two surprising similarities between your lives.

Leadership & Expansion

You're a pen pal veteran now — share the experience. Help a friend or younger sibling set up their own pen pal connection. Present what you've learned about your pen pal's country to your class, scout troop, or community group. Create a display board, slide deck, or short video comparing your life in Salt Lake City with your pen pal's life — Canva (canva.com) is free and easy. Look into whether your school would want to join iEARN as an official school project. You're ready for the next step when you have taught at least one other person how to start a pen pal connection and shared your own experience with a group of at least five people.

Impact & Reflection

Look back at your full pen pal journey. How has talking to someone on the other side of the world changed how you see the news, your own life, or global issues? Write a reflection — a blog post, a journal entry, or a short essay. Share your story on a platform like DoSomething.org or submit it to your school paper. Consider keeping the pen pal relationship going long-term — some pen pal friendships last decades. You're ready for the next step when you can write a one-page reflection explaining how this experience changed your thinking about the world, with at least two specific examples from your exchanges.