The 826 Network Pen Pal Project

May 18, 2018

Writing connects us.

From Instagram captions to emails, writing is a touchstone for our lives. And while we are increasingly swapping pencils for thumbs and pens for keyboards, writing continues to guide the way we connect with one another.

May 15th marked the 100th anniversary of the world’s first established airmail service from Washington D.C.-Philadelphia-New York. In celebration of the centennial, 826 National is bringing it back to good old fashioned pencils and paper. Inspired by our friends at Labo des Histoires, who will be doing their own international aéropostale project later this year, students at 826CHI, 826DC, and 826NYC’s After-School Program participated in a letter and story book exchange using airmail.

During the exchange, students wrote the beginning, middle and end to each other’s stories accompanied by letters about their hometown, life and interests.

826NYC After-School Students, 2018 Pen Pal Project

826NYC After-School Students, 2018 Pen Pal Project

Here are some highlights from the letters and the collaborative stories!

[ezcol_1third]

“If you go to Chicago, you have got to go downtown. This city is a very busy and noisy city.”
-Sipho, Grade 4:

[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third]

“Lewis wanted to know how he lost the Magic 8 Ball, so he pondered day and night, pondered and pondered, and Lewis could never find out.”
-Carlos, Grade 4

[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end]

“The zombie said, ‘I am not here to eat you up. I am here to see the book – it is able to travel to different worlds.'”
-Morgan, Grade 3

[/ezcol_1third_end]

More Stories Like This »

826LA | Garcia Family

October 20, 2016

826LA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write. Our services are structured around our understanding that great leaps in learning … Continue reading

The Washington Post Reveals Why 826 Students Actually Love Writing

January 10, 2020

At 826, our North Star is a belief in the power of writing and the power of young people — because we know their voices matter. And as the largest youth writing network in the country, we’re dedicated to ensuring … Continue reading

826 National and Reach Higher Put Students on the Path to College

December 3, 2019

What happens when you combine the existing free college writing support offered by chapters in the 826 Network with Reach Higher’s expertise in creating a college-going movement? You get The Great College Essay Project, an effort launched this fall to … Continue reading