Connecting roots, building friendships!
Connecting roots, building friendships!
DISCOVER THE MAGIC OF LETTER WRITING
A small gesture. A powerful connection. Through letters, postcards, and stories, children and teens from around the world connect, share their worlds, and build lasting friendships that trascend borders.
WHAT IS "AMICI DI PENNA"?
“Amici di Penna” (Pen Pals) was created to strengthen the cultural and linguistic bond between Italian children and youth living abroad and those residing in Italy.
Through Amici di Penna, children and teens around the globe build meaningful friendships and explore new worlds - one letter at a time.
“Amici di Penna” (Pen Pals) is a BimBi Italiani project that connects children and young people aged 3 to 17 across the globe.
Through the exchange of letters, drawings and creative materials, participants build new friendships, strenghten their Italian language skills, develop empathy, discover new cultures, and discover the joy of genuine, heartfelt communication.
The project celebrates the timeless art of traditional correspondence and fosters linguistic, cultural, and emotional growth through meaningful personal exchange.
Pairings are primarily made between Italy and other countries, or between participants living in different nations.
Each letter is a bridge — an opportunity to connect, share, and grow together.
Project Objectives
Strengthen the cultural connection between participants and Italy.
Promote written Italian as a powerful tool for self-expression and connection.
Foster genuine friendships among Italian children and youth worldwide.
Encourage intercultural dialogue and exchange.
Celebrate handwriting and the timeliness art of traditional correspondence.
Why participate?
Improve your written Italian in a natural and meaningful way.
Discover new cultures and traditions.
Nurture empathy, curiosity, and authentic friendships.
Deepen your connection to Italy and your cultural roots.
Embark on a hands-on journey towards global citizenship.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Discover how to join the “Amici di Penna” — a unique opportunity for children and teens to connect, share, and exchange stories with peers from every corner of the globe.
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE ?
Children and teens aged 3 to 17 - through individual or family participation.
Primary and lower secondary school classes - through their schools.
Important:
Participation is reserved for registered members of BimBi Italiani. An active annual membership is required.
Not a MEMBER yet?
Click here to join the BimBi Italiani world and explore all the benefits!
HOW TO ENROLL
Become a member or renew your BimBi Italiani membership.
Pay the participation fee.
Complete the registration form - the form will be available on this page once enrollment opens.
Accept the program regulations.
Enrollment will reopen in September – October!
FEES
Families: €12 annual membership + €5 per child
Schools: €300 annual membership (for large institutions) + €100 project fee per group (up to 20 students).
Individual / Family Participation
Children enrolled individually will be paired with a pen pal of a similar age for a personal and meaningful cultural exchange.
LEARN HOW IT WORKS AND HOW TO JOIN: Click below!
School Participation
School classes are matched with partner classes in Italy or abroad, integrating letter writing into the educational curriculum.
LEARN HOW IT WORKS AND HOW TO JOIN: Click below!
Management Responsibilities:
Individual Enrollment: Managed by the child's parent or legal guardian.
School Enrollment: Managed by the participating school and its designated teacher(s)
Participant Commitments :
Maintain regular contact with your pen pal throughout the project
Respect privacy - do not share personal information about your pen pal
Communicate with kindness, respect and appropriate language at all times.
Submit final feedback to BimBi Italiani on the experience.
ENROLLMENT IS CURRENTLY CLOSED!
Registrations open once a year in September/October
(with potential future expansion in the works!).
For more information or questions:
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