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When Ashley Campbell founded innovative children’s stationery company Coral & Blue Paper Co., she had no idea the impact it would have on children and families throughout the world. Later this month, she will travel to the Republic of Burundi to meet with local teacher Maurice Karenzo and witness firsthand the writing and art program they developed together for students as a way to promote healing through writing, trauma therapy and human connection.

Coral & Blue was established in 2017 to teach youth how to disconnect from electronics and about the importance of expressing gratitude through writing thank you notes. Each card, which Campbell has patented, is twice the width of normal stationery, elementary-lined and features creative space at the top for coloring. Campbell and Karenzo connected in 2021, leading to the first donation of cards to students in Burundi.

“The Coral & Blue Mission grew organically after seeing the impact the thank you notes had on Burundi children, who enthusiastically shared them with loved ones and teachers. Because Burundi is the poorest nation in the world, paper is considered a novelty. We knew an official program could make a further impact,” said Campbell.

Since then, the partnership has developed to include a formalized country-wide curriculum that now serves more than 7,000 children, with 36 teachers trained to teach The Coral & Blue Mission. Coral & Blue also works with women’s shelters and sponsors children’s Bible lessons and games.

“The Coral & Blue Mission has been healing for both children and adults dealing with trauma, extreme poverty, civilian wars and abuse,” said Karenzo, “The Mission brings writing and art therapy, sharing feelings aloud, counseling, food, school supplies and building shelters for vulnerable women. It has blessed both children and adults.”

As part of the trip, Coral & Blue will be working with children and women both in the capital city of Bujumbura, as well as in rural regions where electricity, running water, Internet and regular schooling for children are scarce. The team will also distribute private donations and be meeting with Mission teachers and new instructors.