One of the things I love most about storytelling is that it reminds us how connected we are. A voice from the California desert can travel halfway around the world and brighten a child's day in Bali. That's the spirit behind the Hello Project.

The Hello Project is a What's Good in the World (WGW) initiative connecting people across cultures through storytelling, conversation, and shared learning. We are inviting friends and supporters to participate.

The idea is simple: record a short video (under one minute) introducing yourself to children in Bali who are learning English through programs supported by ATOVA International. These students are eager to hear from English speakers and learn about people and places beyond their own communities.

We welcome participation from people of all ages and from around the world. Whether you live in a city, a small town, on a farm, in the mountains, by the ocean, or in the desert, your story and greeting can help students practice English while learning about life in other places. Children under 18 should participate with a parent's or guardian's permission and include that approval with their submission.

Your video should be friendly, simple, and easy to understand. Please speak a little more slowly than you normally would, while still sounding natural and conversational.

Please include:

•         Your first name

•         Where you live

•         Something you enjoy doing

•         A little about your community or environment

•         A fun fact about your daily life

For example:

"Hello! My name is Hilary. I live in the California desert in the United States. Every day I watch roadrunners and other wildlife near my home. I enjoy photography, storytelling, and meeting new people. Next year I hope to visit Bali. I am happy to send you my greetings and wish you success in your English studies.”

Please do not include information that is too personal or anything you would not want a stranger to know.

These videos will only be shared with ATOVA International and the students participating in the program.

We may also provide a written transcript of your message to help the students follow along as they listen.

Hearing real voices from around the world helps students practice their listening skills and reminds them that learning English can connect them to people, places, and opportunities far beyond their own communities.

Our goal is to collect 12 greeting videos by the end of this month. If you would like to participate, please submit your video as soon as possible so we can compile and share it with the students.

If you enjoy participating in this project and would be interested in continuing communication with students through a future video pen-pal exchange, please let us know. We are exploring opportunities to create ongoing cultural exchanges between volunteers and students.

To participate, please submit your video using the Hello Project form:

https://forms.gle/g5AgB7mqY1M3CjBn8

If you have questions, please contact: Hilary@whatsgoodintheworld.org

If you would like to participate in a future video pen-pal exchange, please let us know:

•         Whether you would like to participate in a video pen-pal project

•         What age group would you be most comfortable communicating with

•         Any interests, hobbies, or areas of expertise you would enjoy sharing

Thank you for helping build connections across cultures, one hello at a time.

Videos may be recorded in either landscape or portrait format.

More information coming soon...