Pen Pals Friendship Project
Empowering Communities, Embracing Diversity
2021 – 2022
The Pen Pals Project was a collaborative initiative designed to foster friendship and cultural exchange between children from ethnic minority communities and their peers from other backgrounds in Renfrewshire. Children aged 6–11 were paired to write letters to each other, sharing stories about their lives, culture, and hobbies. The objective was to strengthen connections across diverse communities and help young children appreciate different cultures from a young age. It culminated in an in-person meet-up where the pen pals met for the first time, engaged in fun activities (like a joint craft workshop), and received a published book compiling their letters and drawings.
Project Details
Target Beneficiaries
Children from migrant or ethnic minority families and children from the wider (majority) community in Renfrewshire. The project specifically included New Scot refugee kids as well as local Scottish kids to create intercultural pairs. Indirectly, families of these children also benefited through new friendships and understanding.
Outcomes / Impact
The project was highly successful in building empathy and friendships. Many of the 20+ participating children formed lasting bonds – as one 9-year-old participant said, “when we met, we just started talking like we were old friends”. Parents observed improved confidence in their children and excitement about learning about different cultures. The special book of letters stands as a tangible outcome, copies of which are displayed in Renfrewshire libraries, spreading a message of inclusion. The project served as a model for cultural bridging at a grassroots level and was one of a series of initiatives under the local cultural integration strategy.
Funding Sources
The Pen Pals Project was supported by Renfrewshire Council’s Future Paisley programme and the New Scots Refugee Integration Delivery Project (NSRIDP). NSRIDP is a Scottish Government-led partnership (with COSLA, Scottish Refugee Council, and University of Glasgow) and part-funded by the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. These funds covered coordination by the Ethnic Communities Cultural Steering Group, materials (postage, stationery, printing the book), and event costs.
Collaborators / Partners
Pachedu was a key partner in this project through the Ethnic Communities Cultural Steering Group (ECCSG), a regional coalition. The ECCSG led the project and comprises OneRen (Renfrewshire’s culture trust), Pachedu, School of African Cultures, Jambo Radio, Inspiring Families, and the University of the West of Scotland. Pachedu and SOAC helped recruit the children from minority communities, while OneRen’s arts team and other partners organised activities. Local group Sewing2Gether All Nations hosted a sewing workshop during the meet-up, showcasing a collaborative community effort.