We are Western Internet Friends. A group of passionate Western students looking to make a change in our community. 

The founders of this page are:

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     Abbey Anthony: 4th year, Criminology student

    Jenna Warwick: 4th year, sociology student, Jenna Warwick

    Clare Finlay: 3rd year, Criminology and Family Studies double major

    Connor Quinton: 2nd year, Criminology and Sociology double major

    Sydney Hubbel: 2nd year, Criminology minor and Psychology major

    Zixi Chen: 2nd year, Criminology student

    David Wighton - Community Development Coordinator, Community partner 

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We created this program through the Community Engaged Learning opportunity at Western University and PHSS London. While we wanted to create a Pen Pal Program that communicated through letters, we had to adapt through the pandemic. Western students and supported people at PHSS now communicate mainly through emails. Were hopefully that someday we can return to sending letters. We are continually working to create a program that is focused on building long-lasting relationships between student volunteers at Western and the PHSS community. 

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We match volunteers based on a compatibility survey to best match Western student volunteers to PHSS clients. This survey is based on common interests, preferred frequency of communication, and preferred form of contact. 

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You should join the program if you want to build some amazing connections and friendships with some incredible, fun and super interesting individuals. We all can use a kind letter every once and a while, especially because of the social isolation that we all have experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, why not pick up some volunteer experience while emailing some of the most incredible people in our community.

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• Build friendships in the London community

• Meet new people 

• Volunteer experience with an incredible group of people ​

 

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Volunteers from Western that participate in this program are required to:

1. Be a current student at the University of Western Ontario

2. Contact their P.H.S.S. partner on a consistent basis 

3. Read and apply different techniques to communicate effectively with people who have developmental disabilities. The education required to participate in the program is listed below.