ESSO in Action
Pen Pals for Haiti has been a part of my Exeter experience since prep year. The club really gives you a chance to connect with another kid who is around your age, but who has had a different experience than your own. Simply by coming to Exeter we are offered a privilege that most of these kids have never known.
We work with one class in Carrefour and we write to them in English to help them better their writing skills in a meaningful way. Pen Pals for Haiti is great because it helps Exeter kids reach out of the “bubble” and engage with other people their age.
We encourage everyone to support relief efforts that are going on right now to help people in Haiti overcome the devastating effects of the hurricane.
Our next meeting, half an hour long, is on Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. around one of the big tables in the periodicals room.
–Claire Dauge-Roth
Pen Pals for Haiti is a club in which communication is key. I had attended the club for three years before becoming a club head and it was all because of the lovely messages I received and was able to return to my pen pal. I remember being in a pen pal program with a local high school when I was in third grade and I thought that was the most amazing thing in the world. Imagine how these kids are feeling, writing to other kids like them in a totally different country. It is a huge privilege for us to get in touch with the students in Carrefour, Haiti. Pen Pals for Haiti strives to create friendship and a real human connection between students in different parts of the world. We try to teach our club members more about Haiti’s history and part of their culture. During the year, students get to see in the letters they receive just how much they are doing to help these kids practice their English skills. You will have lots of fun coming to our club and you can practice your French too. The letters are written in English though, so if you don’t have any previous knowledge of French, it is okay. We meet around four times a term to write/read our letters and talk about other things concerning what we want to do as a club. New members are welcome anytime and new ideas/perspectives as well! I hope you guys can attend one of our meetings.
-Francelis Suarez