BUTUAN CITY – In this time of new normal when face to face engagement is regulated, the States’ 4-H International initiates a program that allows the youth to stay socially connected amidst the pandemic through the Pen Pal program.

With the invitation sent to the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), local 4-H Club members are encouraged to join the pen plan program which will run from February 15 to May 17, 2021. Interested 4-H’ers may sign up for the program by filling out an online registration until January 31, 2021. States’ 4-H will then review the information received online and facilitate the pairing of youth with an appropriate match from the US youth.

Alongside meeting overseas friends while practicing their writing skills, the program also provides an opportunity to learn and engage with other youth and share ideas and experiences through their preferred communication method. They will be tasked to exchange letters or messages with their match at least twice per month. States’ 4-H will suggest a topic of the month and a list of other writing prompts to help foster writing ideas of what to write.

At the end of the program, an online space will be created for participants to share what they learned from their pen pal.

The program is open for 4-H Club members who are between the ages of 9 to 18 years old. Registration details can be accessed through the respective Provincial and City RBO Coordinators.