I became aware of Project PeacePal 11 years ago when the founder and director, Sarah Wilkensen contacted me. I began volunteering for the organization by processing the amazing hand-written letters coming from school children in various parts of Africa. I fell in love with PeacePal immediately. I am a high school Librarian and started an after school PeacePal club 11 years ago at my school. The students write letters to their PeacePals around the world, as Sarah has greatly expanded locations and also do volunteer projects. One of the most wonderful things I have noticed through the years is that after we get kids started on volunteer projects we know exist, they soon find others that interest them as well. Caring and sharing grows when planed with love. I am so proud to be a part of this organization.
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I have been involved with PeacePal (Global One To One) for the past 10 years. I am a High School Librarian and I mentor students in PeacePal after school in our club. Students learn about one another first hand, through the letter writing process of this program. They write about their families, schooling, hobbies, culture and plans of their futures. The students look forward to receiving their letters from their new friends and learn the commonalities of their life: they all need food, shelter and love. They are excited to learn about the different cultures and traditions of others which makes them less afraid of the differences, garnering respect rather than fear. Students of PeacePal in the U.S. also work on fundraising projects for the organization and their community. I wish all students were a part of this program as I know there would be much more respect for other cultures and less fighting due to a lack of understanding.
I worked and also volunteered with the charity and it is a great organization run by an exceptional woman. Sarah Wilkinson is a rare human being that brings the best out in people. Her organization has given tens of thousands of school children, throughout the world, the opportunity to engage with each other positively. With the current situation of people closing themselves off and building walls, Sarah's organization is not only building bridges between cultures but a foundation of trust between cultures as well.
As the former President of the board, I have always been in awe of the entire team’s dedication to the cause of connecting students across the globe to further a deeper understanding of other people and cultures beyond stereotypes and sound bites. Operating on a shoestring budget but delivering well above its weight in success after success, year after year. The students, teachers and parents involved in this endeavor have helped Global One to One remain New Mexico’s best educational charity...I hope if you are reading this you’ll check it out further, as you will not be disappointed!
It has been a privilege to work and volunteer for Global One to One over the past 3 years! This organization fills a communication void in our society by connecting students with their peers abroad to expand their perspectives on our world. I can't think of a more pressing need especially as world leaders seek to divide and perpetuate fear. If you are looking for a crucial yet tangible cause to support related to youth, global exchange, and peace-building, Global One to One is a top notch organization to explore. Their work is effective and necessary!
This organization helps students from the U.S. connect and engage with students in other countries. There are three great programs that this program uses to accomplish this. Connect one to one, Engage one to one and Innovate one to one.
It has been my pleasure to work with them on the Innovate one to one program. Students from Kenya and India worked with students from the U.S. on several STEM related projects and interacted with each other with letters and video
This is a fantastic program and it evolves and grows every school year. From letter exchanges to STEM collaboration, Global One to One has helped thousands of students all around the globe to connect with one another for meaningful intercultural exchange. It is also effectively a literacy program, teaching its enrollees how to write letters.
I love Global One to One.
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Incredible program I've been so fortunate to serve. Facilitates communication between students in 11 different countries--3,000 letters a year! Intercultural dialogue benefits all program participants by broadening minds and encouraging empathy and curiousity, but it's a functional literacy project, too, as it teaches a digital generation to handwrite letters. Couldn't recommend G121 highly enough. Take a look at the leters--I'll let the kids speak for themselves.
Global 1 to 1 helps children in the US and several foreign countries to better communicate with and understand one another while developing technological skills, leadership traits, and writing ability.
Project Peacepal is a great nonprofit that help me and others. It also provided means for communication for people in countries around the world. Which, as a result, connected many in more than one way.
I have been a part of Project Peacepal for almost 10 years. After graduating from college, where Peace Studies had been one of my focuses, I was contacted by Sarah Wilkenson, the founder of PeacePal. I began volunteering in the office and then helped to work on the curriculum for the program. When I became the librarian for La Cueva High School I started an after school PeacePal club. This group works on fund raising and participates in letter writing. The students learn about the culture and customs of their Peacepals from one another, rather then from a teacher lecturing. The one to one contact has a huge impact on the students who wait anxiously for each return letter from their new friends. They learn that all people have the same basic needs; food, shelter and love. They find that the different cultures and traditions are interesting rather than strange or scary. They learn difference is good and can be respected rather than feared. Connecting students on a one to one basis has a lasting positive effect on our children and helps to bring us together globally. PeacePal changes students lives for the better and many who join the club participate the entire 4 years. This program has also made the kids more aware of the needs of the people in their own community and has inspired my groups to work with homeless students at one of our elementary schools. PeacePal is a wonderful program and is one of the positive pieces of the puzzle of education, respect and service for students world-wide.
I came to know about Project Peacepal when I was an exchange student in the U.S. During my exchange program, I got the opportunity to participate in a PenPal program between my class in the U.S. and a class in Togo. I participated in various fundraising events for the Stamp Out Malaria program. Through this organisation, I also got to take a service learning course at the University of New Mexico.
After coming back to India, through Project Peacepal, we started a Letter Exchange program between schools in India and the U.S. The participants also participated in various Skype Call sessions, where they exchanged various ideas and got to clear some of the misconceptions that they had about each other. They got to showcase their traditional dance/music to their PenPals.
Inspired by the Global One to One and its programs, I now plan to start a regional Letter exchange program between states of India to bridge the cultural gap between them.
Since the beginning, Global One to One has believed in cultivating cross-cultural understanding and peace between countries though its various programs. I am very proud to be a part of this Organisation!
This is a true grassroots organization started by a woman with a passion for peace and maintained over the years by herself and others who share her vision and hope. A main premise is that by promoting connections, communication, and understanding between students in different countries we can build a more peaceful society. The kids love the interaction and the organization is very supportive and gives you everything you need to have a great experience. A+ for the concept and for the people who have very unselfishly given their time and talent to make it successful.
Amazing organization, with the selfless goal of promoting Peace by communication! What a simple idea and yet would have the move profound effect to the world and individuals, if we'd only be willing to listen and talk. Couldn't be more proud of the efforts of the group to educate our youths and influence our future as a global society. :)
I had the privilege of interning for this nonprofit and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Being surrounded by such passionate individuals that want to make a difference was inspiring. The work they do will change the world!
Global One to One is an excellent organization. It helps young people to develop intercultural communication skills and learn about different cultures. I really enjoy working with the staff there.
Great ideas for helping young people learn how to better communicate, appreciate peaceful interaction and mutual respect, and help others.
Good, selfless people working for the organization too.
I have thoroughly enjoyed serving on the Board of Global One to One. My fellow board members are friendly and kind individuals. Before becoming a Board Member, I served as a volunteer for Global One to One as a High School student and learned many valuable leadership skills and ideas. I am very happy to continue working with Global One to One because I strongly believe we are effectively helping and inspiring the individuals we work with. Through our letter writing program aimed at students, we are focusing on the leaders of the future and helping them create meaningful connections with individuals across the world. I hope this review encourages others to check out the program!
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I joined PeacePal as a student volunteer in the 9th grade, and I have enjoyed working with the staff and I have made great friends with the people and students PeacePal has attracted. To be honest, I joined PeacePal by accident. My 9th grade Humanities teacher had a poster to a student summit for PeacePal, but I had no idea what the event was about- I only knew my classmates would be going. I quickly learned the ropes of what PeacePal was about and because I loved the goals of PeacePal, I have been a volunteer ever since! PeacePal made it really easy for me to stay connected with the founder and coordinator, and I feel that it is an effective program that builds community, awareness for its many programs, and full of people who genuinely care about making the world a better more peaceful place. I have a lot of gratitude to PeacePal for the learning I have obtained from its many programs and service opportunities.
Global One to One's mission is to "Strengthen global connections through one to one communication" by creating a network of teachers and students who want to connect with students around the global on a personal level. This is accomplished through the letter writing campaign, the UNESCO clubs, and the robotics program. I became involved with Global One to One because I believe learning to respect, appreciate, and celebrate our various and different cultures is an important step to a more peaceful world.
A Great organization that gives back to the community and makes a vital difference in the world. I volunteered with Global a few times over the past couple years and I can tell you they are some of the most passionate people about effecting positive change in the world.
Global One to One is the first of its kind that I came across during my search to do more meaningful work. I was instantly attracted once I discovered that the organization's main goal is to help future leaders learn about tolerance and cultural differences to eventually develop a dialogue that can change the way the people of the earth interact on a daily basis. With this organization, communication is a major key and as someone who knows the importance of communicating, I can honestly say that it is one of the best proactive programs that seeks to promote unity and relationships. I've seen children's letters crafted by children in the penpal program. They are genuine and sincere and I think that's what is needed in order for people to get along and get past racial or cultural differences and to a point where they can instead focus on more important things like science, environment and business.
Global One to One teaches valuable skills and is a unique way for kids to get involved in something that will not only give them a different perspective, but that can also change the perspective of the world as they grow into the leaders that Global One to One aims to mold.
