Big Sister Pen Pal Program
Our Big Sister Program connects girls on our running teams with a young runner who has more experience in the sport. A Big Sister is a mentor who can offer guidance as the girls navigate their first steps in the sport. It’s a chance to build a friendship, provide girls with a positive role model, and establish a global network of girls who are changing the world for the better.
A mentor in running, a friend in life
What?
Girls Run Global pairs a girl on one of our running teams with someone their age who has more experience in the sport. After they have been paired, the two girls will engage in back-and-forth communication via mailed letters, email, or potentially even phone calls (this will vary depending on resources). The Girls Run Global running team athlete will look to the more experienced runner for guidance in the sport, but both girls will connect with one another as friends. The Girls Run Global Big Sister Pen Pal Program is an opportunity for young runners anywhere in the world to join our mission, and we hope that you will be one of them!
Why?
An essential contributor to success in sport and beyond is having a strong support team. Girls Run Global is working to create a global network of driven young girls who are dedicated to uplifting one another and championing a better world for women, for girls, and for all. The Big Sister Program allows for 1-on-1 mentorship for the beginner runners on our running teams; more importantly, it creates meaningful friendships between the girls involved. Participants in the Big Sister Program gain a lifelong friend and help lift another runner up. It’s a unique opportunity to connect and learn about girls from drastically different backgrounds, while simultaneously bonding over all we share in common.
Apply to be a Big Sister
Currently, the girls on our first ever running team at the SEGA Girls’ School already have a committed pen pal until the end of the school year. That said, we are opening up applications to be a Big Sister for the runners at the SEGA Girls’ School and runners on other teams as we expand to more schools. If approved, Big Sisters will be paired on a first-come-first-serve basis, so apply now to get involved sooner rather than later. We try to match Little Sisters with Big Sisters similar in age and potentially with similar interests outside of running.
Application for the Big Sister program is open to woman-identifying runners aged 17-24. You are encouraged to have at least 3 years of experience in the sport, and a demonstrated commitment to gender advocacy is preferred. If your application passes initial review, you may be asked to do a brief interview to ensure good character and that you are a good fit for the program.
Requirements
Commitment
Big Sisters commit to a minimum of one year of communication with their Little Sister. You will have the opportunity to continue after a year, including if you age out of the 17-24 year age requirement to apply. Communication format (email, call, written mail) and frequency of correspondence will vary, but girls should aim to communicate at least once per month.
