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Experience the Joy of Friendship Beyond Borders!
A sheet of paper, a pen — and a story begins. With “Amici di Penna” — Pen Pals — children and teens in Italy and around the world rediscover the joy of writing, build new friendships, and share their curiosity about Italy.
“Amici di Penna” is a cultural project by BimBi Italiani ETS, open to children and teens of all nationalities, Italian and non-Italian alike, with an interest in Italian language and culture. Through letters, postcards, and stories, participants get to know each other, share their everyday lives, and discover Italy, its traditions, and its culture together.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Each enrolled child is paired with a pen pal of a similar age, with the support and supervision of a parent or guardian.
Whenever possible, priority is given to matches between children living in Italy and those living abroad, to foster a meaningful cultural connection with Italy. When a suitable match in Italy is not available, pairings may also be made between children living in different parts of the world.
BimBi Italiani carefully considers the preferences indicated during enrollment - such as age, location, spoken languages, and interests - based on the number and type of applications received.
Parents and/or legal guardians are responsible for guiding and supporting their child throughout the letter exchange.
A letter can brighten a day.
A friendship can last a lifetime!
WHY PARTICIPATE?
Taking part in Amici di Penna means offering your child a unique opportunity to explore the world through words, build meaningful friendships, and grow while nurturing the Italian language and culture.
Through each letter, story, and drawing, children:
Strengthen their connection to Italy - no matter where they live
Learn to listen, express themselves, and share emotions.
Develop creativity, curiosity, and empathy for other cultures.
Rediscover the true joy of writing and authentic communication.
ELIGIBILITY
Open to children and teens aged 3 to 17, of all nationalities, living in Italy or abroad, with an interest in Italian language and culture.
Individual enrollment is managed directly by the parent or guardian
IMPORTANT: Participation is reserved for registered members of BimBi Italiani and is only available during official enrollment periods.
Parental supervision is required throughout the entire duration of the project.
HOW TO ENROLL
Become a member or renew your BimBi Italiani membership.
Pay the participation fee.
Complete the registration form - available on this page once enrollment opens.
Read and accept the program regulations.
FEES
New Member: €12 annual membership + €5 project fee per echild.
Existing Member: €5 project fee per child.
A separate registration form must be completed for each sibling enrolled.
Rules and Commitments
Participants, under the responsibility and supervision of their parents or guardians, agree to:
Maintain regular and consistent contact with their pen pal
Communicate in a respectful, sincere, and age-appropriate manner
Never share personal or idenitfying information about their pen pal.
Submit feedback on their experience, which may include
-Short comments or reflections
-Photos or drawings sent/received
-Materials or testimonials from the experience
If the exchange cannot continue, promptly inform the other family and BimBi Italiani, so that no child is left waiting for a reply.
Timeline
Enrollment: Opens once a year. The next enrollment period is planned for November 2026.
Matching: Pen pal assignments are shared approximately two weeks after enrollment closes.
Follow-up: Around 10 months into the project, BimBi Italiani will reach out to collect feedback, photos, materials, and testimonials from participants.
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