In a world where the word “refugee” often feels distant and abstract, we rarely get the chance to truly listen to the voices of those living this reality. And especially for young people, this distance can make it harder to connect and empathise with the stories behind the headlines. That’s why we at Sandblast Arts, a non-profit dedicated to amplifying the voices of Saharawi refugees, decided to establish pen pal exchanges between children in the United Kingdom and those living in the Saharawi Refugee Camps of SW Algeria. This initiative has proven to be very powerful. Through simple letters and vlog-like videos, these young participants are discovering that children in this camp are just like their best friends or next-door neighbours—real kids with hopes, dreams, and stories that deserve to be heard.
In collaboration with Year 7 teacher Kathryn Lee from Selby High School, we successfully completed our first round of pen pal exchanges this December! Her students shared letters about their families, daily lives, and drawings showcasing their hobbies and favorite things. In response, our students sent letters and illustrations depicting life in the refugee camps, along with Polaroid photos of their local market, the sandy path leading to their school, and the water storage system that the camp relies upon.. We’re thrilled to see how this exchange will continue to grow in the new year.
We’re excited to be in the midst of partnering with SS Mary and John Catholic Primary School for an exciting pen pal “Vlog” exchange with Clare Homer’s Year 4 class. We’re creating videos that give a tour of the camps, discuss the weather and the impact of climate change on life here, and share insights about Islamic holidays and local traditions. In return, her students are preparing videos to share their Christmas traditions and what winter is like in Birmingham. They may even sing us a Christmas song.
The Pen Pal Exchange has brought so much joy to the children in the refugee camps—we’ve never seen them so excited to use their English skills! Their faces light up with each letter, drawing, or video they receive, proving that the desire for connection and friendship is a powerful motivator. It’s a beautiful reminder of how relationships can inspire children to learn, grow, and envision brighter futures.
If you’re interested in humanizing the refugee experience for your students, please reach out to us at [email protected]! We would love to continue to create meaningful and lasting connections with schools who also share our goals of human rights, equality, and justice for all.