Writing to the World
Hi, my name is Toby, and I am now seven years old. I want to find out lots about the world, so I would like to write a letter to a person from every country in the world, and get a letter or postcard back. It's really tricky to find people in every country, but lots of people are helping me - thank you! We look up all countries, and I think of questions I would like to ask. I'm really interested in fossils, archaeology, explorers, history, stars and planets, science, wild creatures, and how people help other people and protect the environment in lots of places all over the world! I also want to know how people live, and what food they eat, and what school is like!
I write all letters by hand. Mummy is looking after this website for me. Each country gets its own page, and you can read all the letters I have written, and all the replies I am getting. I am also raising money for ShelterBox, because they help people all over the world who need help. Thank you for reading about my project!
Current count of letters written: 387
UN countries covered: 193 out of 193 - mission complete!
Current count of postcards/letters received: 190
Upcoming letters will go to: ? We are out of addresses at the moment...
States, territories and provinces missing:
Toby achieved his "mission" to write to all UN countries in the world, and he has since been tackling the various states, provinces and territories of the US, Canada and Australia. With our map gone (see below), here's a list of those still missing:
US: South Dakota, New Hampshire and Delaware
Australia: Northern Territory, South Australia
DOUBLE UPS AND SPECIAL REQUESTS: These are countries/places that are either not UN members, or that Toby has already covered, but would like to cover again, or people in certain jobs he would love to write to. If you can help with any of these, please get in touch! Please note: a "double-up" does not mean that Toby was unhappy with the first response from that country, simply that he thought of more questions, or loves the place so much that he wants to write to as many people as possible. :)
COUNTRIES/PLACES: Antarctica, Vatican City, Australia, China, Iceland, Philippines, Nepal, Galapagos, Christmas Island, Pitcairn Island, getting a letter into space!!
JOBS: Any archaeologist, palaeontologist, explorer, disaster specialist, wildlife conservationist, marine biologist, wildlife photographer/cameraman/film maker/presenter, author/writer, astronaut, Lego designer or male ballet dancer in any country
I write all letters by hand. Mummy is looking after this website for me. Each country gets its own page, and you can read all the letters I have written, and all the replies I am getting. I am also raising money for ShelterBox, because they help people all over the world who need help. Thank you for reading about my project!
Current count of letters written: 387
UN countries covered: 193 out of 193 - mission complete!
Current count of postcards/letters received: 190
Upcoming letters will go to: ? We are out of addresses at the moment...
States, territories and provinces missing:
Toby achieved his "mission" to write to all UN countries in the world, and he has since been tackling the various states, provinces and territories of the US, Canada and Australia. With our map gone (see below), here's a list of those still missing:
US: South Dakota, New Hampshire and Delaware
Australia: Northern Territory, South Australia
DOUBLE UPS AND SPECIAL REQUESTS: These are countries/places that are either not UN members, or that Toby has already covered, but would like to cover again, or people in certain jobs he would love to write to. If you can help with any of these, please get in touch! Please note: a "double-up" does not mean that Toby was unhappy with the first response from that country, simply that he thought of more questions, or loves the place so much that he wants to write to as many people as possible. :)
COUNTRIES/PLACES: Antarctica, Vatican City, Australia, China, Iceland, Philippines, Nepal, Galapagos, Christmas Island, Pitcairn Island, getting a letter into space!!
JOBS: Any archaeologist, palaeontologist, explorer, disaster specialist, wildlife conservationist, marine biologist, wildlife photographer/cameraman/film maker/presenter, author/writer, astronaut, Lego designer or male ballet dancer in any country
A word from Mum
Thank you for taking an interest in Toby's project - the amount of help we have received from so many people, ranging from friends to complete strangers, has been absolutely overwhelming, and is something we never dreamt possible when Toby initially had the idea! There is an "About" page which gives a bit more background to the project. The full list of countries that are part of Toby's challenge is on each respective continent page (although we are adding additional countries as they occur).
Toby's Dad, Toby and I decided that it would be lovely to stay in touch with Toby's penpals beyond the one-off exchange. Also, so many people have taken an interest in the project via Facebook, that we thought it might be useful to have a Facebook page for the project. On it, we'll share short updates, like bits of info we've learnt about countries, letters written, sent and received, activities, etc. If you want to share in the daily journey, please pop by: https://www.facebook.com/writingtotheworld
Toby's Dad, Toby and I decided that it would be lovely to stay in touch with Toby's penpals beyond the one-off exchange. Also, so many people have taken an interest in the project via Facebook, that we thought it might be useful to have a Facebook page for the project. On it, we'll share short updates, like bits of info we've learnt about countries, letters written, sent and received, activities, etc. If you want to share in the daily journey, please pop by: https://www.facebook.com/writingtotheworld
The Map...
There used to be a beautiful map here, courtesy of "Where I've Been", marking all countries Toby had written to, and all responses he had received. For six months, we looked at it almost daily, seeing it change colour. Then, in December 2013, "Where I've Been" finished, without warning, and all maps disappeared. After living with "our" map for half a year and spending hours and hours updating it, it was a big blow to us, and of course, it helped Toby remember which country is where, and he took great pleasure in colouring them in. We haven't even got a screen shot of the latest - or any - version. Therefore, we now have only a list. Sorry - we know you liked the map, too!
