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Audrey Jansen

WRITE. Asha Peckosh writes her letter to a political prisoner in Russia.

After announcements made in the student newsletter and during assemblies about a writing workshop for letters to political prisoners, many students showed up to investigate the difference-making opportunity. The event gave students the opportunity to write letters to prisoners in Russia.

Upper school history teacher Andrea Sachs organized this event along with Elena Mityuhina, who owns the non-profit Russians Against War (RAW) Minnesota. Sachs and Mityuhina met at a dinner party a while back. They connected over an interest, which led to a greater relationship that made this event possible.

The goal of RAW Minnesota is to provide a sense of hope to prisoners in Russia; they strive to make each person they write to a little more optimistic.

Sachs wanted to bring the non-profit organization and its values to St. Paul Academy and Summit School.

“I think Minnesotans this winter have learned the importance of showing up for people and neighbors. We can define neighbors however we want to define neighbors. They could be 17-year-olds in a prison in Russia,” she said.

Sachs thinks of a quote when writing her letters: “I think I’m a big believer in the phrase action relieves anxiety and I think that this is a small, tangible, but really important step that we can take to affirm our connection to each other,” Sachs said.

Mityuhina has seen multiple lasting connections made between the letter writer and the letter recipient. She has been presenting and sharing her enjoyment of writing with others for the past three years. This was the first time Mityuhina presented to high school students; in the past, she has presented at universities and to professional groups.

“We’ve sent over 1,000 letters to Russian prisons, received hundreds back. And we’ve seen people become pen pals,” she said.

She has seen many people connect. “One person exchanged 50 letters with somebody in Russia. And we see people exchanging books that they love to read and they share interests. Some people share interests about gardening, hobbies and movies. And it’s amazing to see that connection. It’s a human-human connection.”

Junior Adi Narayan saw the opportunity in the weekly newsletter and wanted to see how he could help. “I hope to make them more hopeful. I know they’re probably in a terrible state, in prison, mentally. So I just want them to feel like any like, any sense of hopefulness,” Narayan said.

This organization has found great success in sending these letters. There is the opportunity to send letters to @[email protected], which they will then translate and send out. Updates and new ways to stay involved are also available on their website or Instagram page.