ABOUT 250 children's letters are about to criss-cross the seas at a time when many pen pal programs have faded away in the face of new technology. It is an idea met with nostalgia by many older people, Jesse Munzel says. "They are like 'I used to have a pen pal' or 'I remember receiving a letter from an old friend', and how much of a joy that was," she said. "It makes them realise how much they miss this process of receiving a kind, lovely letter that's not a bill or a random scam email." Below: Victory Christian College students Elisha Slingo and Alex West discuss what they discovered when they picked up a pen and wrote to students across the sea. Ms Munzel is helping facilitate the Dear CRIS program, connecting Bendigo students with those in Malaysia and Thailand to build global awareness. "It's getting them out of the classroom, in a sense, and making them aware of what conditions are like in different countries," she said. More: Groups fight back against ban on pen pal programs for prisoners "It's building gratitude and the awareness that things might be different, but that does not make people different. At the end of the day, everyone is the same." The pilot program ran last year with Bendigo students and was so successful the number of children involved has doubled. Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
DEAR CRIS: Victory Christian College grade six students Elisha Slingo and Alex West draft letters, with facilitator Ryan Peterson providing a few handy tips. The Dear Cris program connects students with counterparts overseas.
ABOUT 250 children's letters are about to criss-cross the seas at a time when many pen pal programs have faded away in the face of new technology.
It is an idea met with nostalgia by many older people, Jesse Munzel says.
"They are like 'I used to have a pen pal' or 'I remember receiving a letter from an old friend', and how much of a joy that was," she said.
"It makes them realise how much they miss this process of receiving a kind, lovely letter that's not a bill or a random scam email."
Below: Victory Christian College students Elisha Slingo and Alex West discuss what they discovered when they picked up a pen and wrote to students across the sea.
Dear CRIS, here's how to make the world more tolerant
"It's building gratitude and the awareness that things might be different, but that does not make people different. At the end of the day, everyone is the same."
The pilot program ran last year with Bendigo students and was so successful the number of children involved has doubled.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
