Currently Writing - DALAYA!
Kind 6th Grader who stands up for everyone else, heartbroken by bullies targeting the color of her skin. 11-year-old Dalaya is "a...
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Friend Mail
Letters of Support Delivered
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We deliver peer support
to victims of bullying!
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About Friend Mail
Our signature Friend Mail program was envisioned by the junior cast members of the 2015 world premiere of "IT'S EASY! The Friend Strong Musical" in the Bronx, NY. These young actors asked the playwrights for a way to carry off-stage the show's "speak up, reach out and be a friend" message, determined to help victims of bullying stay strong and know they matter. What better way than a surprise delivery of peer support delivered to their door like a big bundle of 'fan mail' to a celebrity? The young Upstanders named it "FRIEND MAIL," letters of peer support with empathetic words and art, videos and personal gifts. Currently, each Friend Mail Recipient receives between 800-2,000 letters from K-12 students across the USA and growing internationally. The more letters, the greater the impact to a child bullied beyond hope and feeling alone. Will you join us?
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Current Recipient
Current Recipients
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Letter Writing Guidelines
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Have fun and put your heart into it!
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Your style is up to you!
The possibilities are endless for all school-age kids & teens! Whether you create a virtual card, send an email or a picture of your letter, mail your handwritten letters, class poster or creative cards with drawings and surprises, what matters most is that you are sending a gift from the heart and be proud of it!
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Remember to introduce yourself
...without giving your last name or home address. For example: "I'm a 5th grade student in a New York City public school..."
4
Connect! You know their story!
What do you have in common? You might share about hobbies and activities that you enjoy. If you feel like you've been in their shoes before, tell them about it.
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Be Positive!
Your goal is to help victims feel better about themselves, not worse. Instead of saying, "I feel sorry for you," you might say, "I am sorry you have to deal with bullies because you sound like a very interesting person."
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Please Don't "Blame the Victim"
... by telling them they "should have" done something differently. THEY SURVIVED. Especially do not tell them they should have hit their bully, or spread lies about him or her... we will pull out letters that encourage violence.
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Stay Mindful: the Project is not Religion-Based
...and the person you are writing may have different beliefs from you. We are Kindness-Based and celebrate diversity.
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Don't stress out about solving their problems
...because that is not your job. Your job is to show support through your words to a peer who really needs it!
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Give only your first name and leave no contact info
Though "pen pals" are a fun idea, we keep all our under-18 Ambassadors and Recipients safe and anonymous. Only school addresses are okay! Your letters come through our office first. We review their content and mail them as one big delivery!
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Letter Samples
Imagine enduring on-going physical, verbal, social and cyber cruelty from your peers to the point where you feel worthless, lose hope and believe the ugly words they call you. Then, one day, thousands of letters arrive from kids & teens across the country calling you a "HERO" and a "FRIEND."
These 115 sample letters - banners, posters, mobiles, tee-shirts - are just 1/10 of the average amount of letters a bullied child receives in one surprise Friend Mail Delivery. Spelling, age and creative medium does not matter; all that matters is HEART and the power of EMPATHY.
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How to Send Your Letter
Send All Physical Mail To:
Be A Friend Project
P.O. BOX 30
Beacon, NY 12508
Sending Virtual Mail:
Letters can be sent by using our online form, sending us your Google Drive link, or an email. Emails can also include PDFs or pictures of your handmade letters! For best results, take pictures overhead and straight-on, easiest to do by placing them on the floor. We will print it out for you and include it in the "Friend Mail" delivery!
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Share our promo video
to inspire your friends
to make a difference!
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