Amici di Penna
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A letter can start a friendship.

Pen friends for children, worldwide

A free, parent-led pen pal community helping children practise languages and discover the world through handwritten letters.

Illustration of two children writing letters across the world
Families worldwide
160+
Ages
2–17
Free to join
Non-profit
Parent-led
Every match

How it works

Parents guide the process. Children get the fun part: choosing a friend and writing the first letter.

  1. 1

    Add your child

    Share their age, languages, interests and country with the parent group.

  2. 2

    Meet the group

    Introduce your family and see who might have interests or an age in common.

  3. 3

    Choose a pen pal

    Families decide who feels like a good fit. There is an Italian group and a wider global group.

  4. 4

    Connect privately

    Parents agree to connect, then arrange the letter exchange together. Addresses are never posted in the group.

Illustration of a mother and son opening a letter beside a globe

Born between two cultures

Amici di Penna began with an Italian mum from Trieste raising her son, Ron, in Australia. She wanted him to stay curious about both cultures and keep using the languages around him.

Handwritten letters offered a simple way for children to practise, ask questions and share a small part of everyday life. That family idea now connects more than 160 families around the world.

Parents stay in control

Children’s safety comes first

Families choose each match and share contact details privately. The community expects respectful, positive and age-appropriate exchanges.

No public addresses

Postal details belong in a private parent-to-parent conversation.

Family choice

Every family decides what feels suitable for their own child.

Ready to write the first hello?

Join the parent community, introduce your child and find a pen pal that feels right for your family.

Create your account