The Pen Pal Program
The Firelight Foundation's Pen Pal Program empowers youth in Africa and the U.S. to learn about each others' lives through letter-writing.

This program supports children in Africa who are dealing with HIV/AIDS in their daily lives, and helps increase awareness of HIV/AIDS among American youth. It increases children's knowledge of the world, gives them a larger sense of purpose, and enhances their sense of connection to faraway communities. Positive youth action such as learning also decreases the spread of HIV/AIDS among adolescents and enhances their sense of well-being and hope.

The Pen Pal Program is currently serving U.S. youth from Santa Cruz, California (where the Foundation is located), and African children in programs receiving Foundation grants. Our participants include:

• Anzar High School (San Juan Bautista, CA, USA)
• Scotts Valley High School (Scotts Valley, CA, USA)
• Pacific Collegiate School (Santa Cruz, CA, USA)
• Alexandra After School Program (South Africa)
• Cameroon Medical Women Association (Cameroon)
• National Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (Uganda)
• Rural Education and Economic Enhancement Program (Kenya)
• Benishyaka Association (Rwanda)
• Fountain of Hope Street Children Center (Zambia)
• WEM Integrated Health Services-Tumaini (Children of Hope) (Kenya)
• Zambia Red Cross Street and Out of School Children Project (Zambia)
  

The Foundation helps each partner identify an adult coordinator for the project, and pays for international shipping costs to facilitate a faster exchange of pen-pal letters. The Foundation also conducts an annual program evaluation.

This program model is available for replication by any other organization interested in starting a new Pen Pal exchange.

About Us • Children and AIDS • Funded Projects • You Can Help • Apply for a Grant • Contact Us • Home