Student Contributor -K. Wilson
The Right to Write program is an organization that is trying to collect pens and pencils to send to third world countries. Kim, their founder started by taking clothes overseas to donate while she was visiting. She found that most people wanted more of her pens than anything else! She started then to collect pens and pencils to send to schools, orphanages and hospitals either by individual volunteers, travelers or through other organizations. These people distribute them by hand to children who need them the most. Their goal is to make sure that all classrooms have the materials to work with in the schools. The organization is based out of New York, and you mail the collections of materials to the hub if you cannot personally take them to another country with you. You also can arrange to take materials with you on a trip out of the country as well.
This organization has donated 421,144 pens and pencils to date (as of June 3, 2019). Their goal is to make sure that all schools have access to educational materials in third world countries. Educators should partner with this organization because it has the hands-on engagement in your classroom and the long-term benefits for students to see their contributions. This organization also has the option to take your own boxes overseas and to third world countries or you can simply send your collections to New York and they will distribute them for you. The long-term affect of having a pen or pencil to write with is beneficial to the learning of the child and this organization has the power to help a wide variety of students all over the world.
Parents, educators and students can all partner with The Right-to-Write program through school/community drives and end of the clear out sessions. This is such an easy and simple ways to become apart of something bigger. I found that conversations with my students in both my practicum and St. John Vianney school that kids wanted to talk about how they could make a difference without spending much money or asking for money. By having honest conversations about lack of materials in a school setting, students were able to come up with ideas, one being an end of the year clearing session. This happened two weeks before the end of the year and students, teachers and faculty all cleaned out their desks and donated gently used pens and pencils. Another fun way to incorporate this would be a simple drive held for the school. All you will need is a few placed boxes around the school with clearly marked signs, flyers and a way to contact/talk with the teachers and students. I completed both the drive and the clearing session. Both were engaging and fun for the students and myself. I although preferred the end of the year clearing session; because most teachers and students were throwing good pens and pencils away anyways. There are many other ways to make this organization into a fun lesson and project, truly the sky is the limit on your ideas! In the future when I find myself traveling again, I want to take donations from my class. The powerful impact of seeing firsthand where our donations go, with help propel me to working harder on small projects like this.
