Project PeacePal was created in the spring of 2007 by founder and Executive Director Sarah Wilkinson based on her experience volunteering at her son’s Albuquerque elementary school. Sarah noticed the curiosity students have about their peers living in other parts of the world and dreamed of establishing a program to directly connect students internationally. Why not create a program where students of all ages could directly communicate and learn from peers across the world as pen pals? The organization began with only a few dozen students in New Mexico and northern Togo and Sarah working from her house. This quickly grew to include thousands of participants in over a dozen countries and numerous volunteers. To accommodate rapid growth over just a few years, the organization moved into an office space in 2010.

PeacePal operates internationally on a shoestring budget. Donor support, grants, and special events each comprise about a third of the organization's funding. 

Project PeacePal is an international peace through education, IRS approved 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Our Federal EIN is 74-3220465.

1. Use your credit or debit card to make a secure gift through JustGive. It's fast, easy and allows you to select "monthly recurring donation".

2. Online bill pay through your bank. It's free and avoids processing charges which allows more of your donation dollar to be used for our programs.

3. Send your check to us directly: P.O. Box 6691, Albuquerque, NM  87197

Find out about more ways you can support PeacePal.

Looking for a meaningful volunteer opportunity? Volunteering with PeacePal  supports our work and gives you the great feeling that you are helping make a difference in the world. Because volunteering with our organization requires training, we ask that volunteers make a minimum commitment of three hours per week for at least three months.

Do you love fundraising or event planning? Help us continue to develop our fundraising development plan, or help us plan our next event. If you are interested in learning more, please contact us today!

What about your business and marketing skills?  Join our Board of Directors and leverage your professional experience to support PeacePal’s mission.  We are looking for energetic individuals who are inspired by our work and willing to share this passion with the people and resources in their lives. The time commitment is approximately eight hours per month.  Board meetings are held every other month and committees meet throughout the year.

Project PeacePal is a school-based peace through education pen pal program. Schools and teachers are asked to contact our office by writing to info@peacepal.org. If you are a student, ask your teacher to contact us. Please note that the deadline for new enrollment is July 30 of each year.

If you are a teacher, please write to us with your name and contact information, a brief description of your school location and classroom size, and the age of your students.

Yes, because we are a school-based program, we accept applications to our program until July 30th each year. If you are a teacher or group leader and are interested in participating in our pen pal letter exchange program, we recommend that you contact us the spring or summer prior to the start of each new school year.

We will respond to your request within one week.

There is no required membership fee to become a PeacePal. Because we pay for program expenses such as postage and supplies for most of our international partners, your financial support is greatly appreciated, however.

A suggested membership fee of $15 per student covers the costs of postage for both the international and U.S. PeacePals, as well as supplies and program costs for the international PeacePal. Students wishing to pay the suggested membership fee may donate online, or send their check made to PeacePal, P.O. Box 6691, Albuquerque, NM 87197.

All letters are processed through the PeacePal office.

No, our program is available to students in middle school and high school only at this time. We currently accept students from age 10 to 17 in grades 6 through 12.

Yes, please click here to download current application form.

Project PeacePal was created in the spring of 2007 by Founder and Executive Director Sarah Wilkinson based on her experience volunteering at her son’s Albuquerque elementary school. Sarah noticed the curiosity students have about their peers living in other parts of the world and dreamed of establishing a program to directly connect students internationally. Why not create a program where students of all ages could directly communicate and learn from peers across the world as pen pals? The organization began with only a few dozen students in New Mexico and northern Togo and Sarah working from her house. This quickly grew to include thousands of participants in over a dozen countries and numerous volunteers. To accommodate rapid growth over just a few years, the organization moved into an office space in 2010.

There are currently about 2,000 active PeacePal students in countries throughout the world including: Afghanistan, Ghana, Kenya, Nepal, Senegal, Togo, Uganda, and the United States. Most are in middle and high school.

The majority of U.S. PeacePals are located in New Mexico while the largest groups internationally are in Afghanistan and Togo.

PeacePal is based in Albuquerque, NM. All letters are processed at this location and the office also serves as the center for all program coordination.

Youth:

By participating in the letter writing program and/or a service leaning project, youth are the focus and impetus for everything PeacePal does. Students are encouraged to initiate letter writing and service projects within their classes and schools, with PeacePal providing all the necessary logistics, coordination, and support.

Check out the resources on our Program tab, under Students: we have a brand new Peace Builder Tool Kit, as well as lesson plans and activities for Adopt a Classroom and Stamp Out Malaria.

Educators:

PeacePal provides our standards-based Peace Begins in Me curriculum to middle and high school educators. The newly revised curriculum is now matched to Common Core Standards and assists teachers with teaching everything from basic literacy skills to conveying concepts of cultural competence, diversity and privilege to non-violent communication and peaceful conflict resolution. Our organization helps teachers at every step along the way in implementing letter writing and/or service learning projects for their classes.

General Public:

The general public can be involved with PeacePal in multiple capacities including: providing donations to support organizational operations, assisting with fundraising, bringing individual talents to a variety of volunteer opportunities, or sitting on our Board of Directors.

PeacePal operates at an international scope on a shoestring budget. The majority of our expenses are for program costs such as international postage and subsidies for partner schools abroad, including basic supplies such as pens and paper. It currently costs about $15 per student per year for the letter writing program. Please see our 2010 Annual Report for more detailed financial information.

Yes, he was.