Middle schoolers get to know students in South Africa through video pen pal program

By CUSD Insider staff

Some Capistrano Unified students are corresponding with students across the world in South Africa through a 21^st century, digitized pen pal program.

Rather than writing letters with pen and paper and dropping them off at the post office, these students submit video messages using a Microsoft program called Flipgrid, which describes itself as “social learning” in “a safe, accessible space where students of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can explore new ideas, connect with others, get creative and contribute to meaningful discussions.”

The core group of middle school Peer Assistance Leadership class teachers include Kalyn Rodriguez at Aliso Viejo, Nick Corbin at Marco Forster, and Mandy Hatcher at Ladera Ranch.

*Students use Flipgrid to communicate with kids in South Africa. Photo courtesy of PAL Advisor Amanda Hatcher at Ladera Ranch Middle School*

Hatcher is in her second year of the pen pal program.

“It has been a learning experience for us all,” she said. “What is so interesting about this program is that students get to see how much they have in common with their pen pals. They love some of the same music and movies, and are also young people who like to have fun.”

She added that the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly affected her students and those in South Africa, showing “how global this pandemic really was.”

Her students also learn about the disparity in Internet access. Her students often wait longer to hear back from their South African counterparts due to lesser access to technology, and that has “led to some good discussions in our classroom,” Hatcher said.

*CUSD students communicate with their pen pals in South Africa.*
*Photo courtesy of PAL Advisor Amanda Hatcher at Ladera Ranch Middle School*

The pen pal program for the Capistrano Unified students came about with the help of Rancho Mission Viejo resident Dr. Margaret Moodian, who sits on the district’s Cultural Proficiency Task Force and LCAP committees, and on the board of Tias Arms, a nonprofit that assists children in South Africa.

Connections with Congressman Mike Levin’s office and Eric Bost, America’s former ambassador to South Africa, helped connect the South African students with Capistrano Unified. In an interview, Moodian said she is looking to have a joint celebration in Orange County and South Africa to recognize the pen pal program, and have Levin and Bost speak.

“They are sweet,” Moodian said of the pen pal videos. “The students give you a good idea of what their personalities are like. Seeing these recordings has given me more hope for the future of our society. These teenagers are so well-spoken. They are bright and charismatic, and it is neat to see.”