This program was designed to link Canadian and Kenyan school students through their exchange of cultural information. Building personal relationships lays the corner stones for partnerships thereby strengthening student global citizenship education. In short, the creation of new personal relationships tends to build stronger partnerships.

When Donating: Select Pen Pal Designation.

Currently…

• many personal relationships have been initiated between Canadian and Kenyan students
• hundreds of letters have been exchanged by students from Southern Ontario schools and schools in the Ol Joro Orok division of Central Kenya
• mail delivery to or from Kenya takes  approximately 10-14 days
• standardized letter “friendly-letter” writing procedures are being followed by both Kenyan and Canadian students
• letter writing becomes a practical and valued strategy to address literacy development and global citizenship education within Kenyan and Ontario schools
• other schools in Southern Ontario and in Kenya have expressed interest in becoming involved with this worthwhile program
• students become excited sending and receiving hand written letters
• the program adds a very personal and human element to exist within activities such as fund raising

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“Thank you for presenting to our classes yesterday! It was a wonderful presentation and very engaging for the students. The students are really excited about writing to their new pen pals. The presentation gave them a lot of great starting points for discussion and questions.”
“Thank you again for the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful educational program.”
“The students were thrilled to receive their pen pal letters back (from Kenya)!  They were well written and it was a great learning experience… (my students) are eager to respond back and we are currently working on our next round of letters.”
Joanna Waller OCT: Teacher, Fessenden Elementary School, Ancaster, Ontario (Mar. 2010)

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“We are very happy to be included in the pen pal program. Our pupils are very excited and they are longing for the big day when they will write their first batch of return letters to Ontario. We know the letters will uplift our English language very much.”
Stephen Njoroge Kihara: Headteacher, Equator Primary School, Ol Joro Orok, Kenya (Feb. 2010)

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“We at Madaraka are grateful for the pen pal program which is improving our pupils’ writing skills.”
John Kariuki: Headteacher Madaraka Primary School, Ol Joro Orok, Kenya

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“Our students are eagerly waiting for the pen pals (from Viscount Montgomery School) in the fall.”
Phillip Njuguna: Headteacher Kirima Primary School, Ol Joro Orok, Kenya

For a list of participating schools check out the Participating Schools section.