Dear world, please forgive us the long post. Three years ago today, on the way to school, Toby asked if he could write a letter to every country in the world. When he started his project, we never could have even begun to imagine where it might lead. People sometimes ask Toby what he has learnt from the project. And of course, he has learnt a lot of things - he has learnt that there are few trees in both Qatar and Nunavut, he has learnt how countries' customs and cultures are influenced by their history, he has learnt that some people celebrate Eid and others celebrate Christmas, he has made a Khratong and bread for Day of the Dead. He has learnt about capitals, populations, weather, wild creatures and disasters. But he has learnt something else, too, and you, all of you, have been teaching him.
Two years before the project started (five years ago now), a 3-year-old Toby said the quote in the picture. "Heroes save the world. But sometimes they don't. Then you have to save the world yourself." How do we save the world??? Toby knows that "saving the world" won't be led by people wearing capes and flying to the rescue.
So: To those who tell the children around you to dream big, who don't laugh and say "you can't do that" - thank you. To those who are willing to answer questions about your faith, your customs, the way you love, the way your mind works, your schools, your hobbies, your dreams and hopes, to build bridges made of knowledge and friendship, rather than walls made of ignorance - thank you. To those who have let us know that Toby's project has made a difference to your life and how you see the world - thank you. To those of you saving the world, one kind smile, one hug, one small gesture at a time - thank you. You are our heroes. You are saving the world. Please keep doing what you're doing - you're doing a great job.
Two years before the project started (five years ago now), a 3-year-old Toby said the quote in the picture. "Heroes save the world. But sometimes they don't. Then you have to save the world yourself." How do we save the world??? Toby knows that "saving the world" won't be led by people wearing capes and flying to the rescue.
So: To those who tell the children around you to dream big, who don't laugh and say "you can't do that" - thank you. To those who are willing to answer questions about your faith, your customs, the way you love, the way your mind works, your schools, your hobbies, your dreams and hopes, to build bridges made of knowledge and friendship, rather than walls made of ignorance - thank you. To those who have let us know that Toby's project has made a difference to your life and how you see the world - thank you. To those of you saving the world, one kind smile, one hug, one small gesture at a time - thank you. You are our heroes. You are saving the world. Please keep doing what you're doing - you're doing a great job.
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