NOW AVAILABLE We will have copies of the newly reprinted Samantha Smith book
"Journey to the Soviet Union". The books will be available for a donation
of $20. and the bust is available for $250. They can be purchased separately
or together. Individuals in a classroom or school may want to give this as
a holiday present to their school library or may want it for their own home.
Please email or contact 508-655-2143 for more details.
The Samantha Smith Project The Peace Literature Project in Honor
of Samantha Smith
The Peace Abbey proposes the development of The Peace Literature
Project in Honor of Samantha Smith to educate students about peace
and promote peace literature for school-age children in 50 selected
pilot schools across the United States.
The project honors Samantha Smith, a young American girl who asked
a simple question and changed the attitudes of two great nations.
In the 1980s, the United States and the Soviet Union were still
in the grip of a Cold War – a struggle between Western democracy
and communism as systems of government. Each country threatened
the other with destruction by nuclear weapons, and kept making more
and more of them. Ten-year-old Samantha Smith worried about war
and dreamed of peace. So she wrote a letter to Yuri Andropov, the
new leader of the Soviet Union: “Dear Mr. Andropov,” she wrote,
“I have been worrying about Russia and the United States getting
into a nuclear war. Are you going to have a war or not…?”
He did not answer right away, but a few months later there was a
phone call waiting for her at the principal’s office at her school
in Manchester, Maine. And so began her amazing journey…
Samantha’s journey to the Soviet Union came to symbolize peace between
the two nations. She proved that one person can make a real difference.
Her courage, faith, and determination to make a positive change
in the world make her a hero for all ages.
After returning to America, she was invited to appear on television
often. She was host of a Disney Channel special educating kids about
the candidates in the 1984 presidential campaign, she spoke at an
international children’s conference in Japan, she starred in the
Lime Street television series. And she wrote the book “Journey to
the Soviet Union.”
Sadly, on August 25, 1985, Samantha and her father were killed in
a plane crash. They were on their way home from London where she
had finished filming a segment for the TV series. She was then 13
years old. Around the world, people remembered the inspiring girl
and her famous trip. A school in Sammamish, Washington, was named
for Samantha, and in Russia there were many memorials including
a postage stamp in honor of their young American friend.
Unfortunately, while Samantha effectively illustrated the power
each of us has to make a difference in our world, many people today
are not familiar with her story. “Journey to the Soviet Union” –
now out of print – is a powerful record of her accomplishment. We
believe that Samantha’s message and the courage with which she delivered
it can continue to inspire and empower people of all ages.
Inspired by the students of the Life Experience School, the Peace
Literature Project in Honor of Samantha Smith will educate students
about peace and promote peace literature for school-age children.
It is the dream of the Peace Literature Project that some day every
American school and town will have a section of its library devoted
entirely to peace.
Project Elements
There will be three elements in the project:
1.
Samantha Smith’s book “Journey to the Soviet Union” was originally
published in 1985 and is now out of print. Samantha was an inspirational
figure for young people in her time, and we believe her story has
great potential to inspire a new generation. Republication of Samantha
Smith’s book in a new trade paperback edition is a key element in
the creation of the Peace Literature Project.
2. We also plan to create for teachers a Peace Studies Curriculum
and Study Guide through which young people will learn the importance
of compassion and nonviolence as well as the value of altruism and
service to others. These materials will be developed in collaboration
with the New England Peace Studies Association (NPSA), an affiliation
of teachers, students, activists, scholars, and researchers involved
in and dedicated to peace, conflict resolution, and nonviolence.
3. Completing the package will be a cold cast bronze bust of Samantha
Smith which libraries can use as the centerpiece to create a display
of the book, the curriculum materials, and related information.
The bust was designed by Lado V. Goudjabidze, a Russian immigrant,
who was commissioned to create the original statue of Samantha which
was dedicated to Samantha and is kept at the Peace Abbey in Sherborn,
Massachusetts.
Funding
Funds are needed for the following items:
1. Republication of “Journey to the Soviet Union” in trade paperback
edition. $7,000
2. Development of Peace Studies Curriculum, including original content
development, acquisition of supporting materials, design and packaging.
$5,500
3. Creation of 50 Samantha Smith busts for pilot schools, including
original design and reproduction costs. $14,000
4. Project administrative costs, including identification of pilot
schools, marketing, printing, postage, shipping, and distribution.
$3,500
We will have copies of the newly reprinted Samantha Smith book
"Journey to the Soviet Union". The books will be available for a donation
of $20. and the bust is available for $250. They can be purchased separately
or together. Individuals in a classroom or school may want to give this as
a holiday present to their school library or may want it for their own home.
Please email or contact 508-655-2143 for more details.
The Peace Abbey proposes the development of The Peace Literature
Project in Honor of Samantha Smith to educate students about peace
and promote peace literature for school-age children in 50 selected
pilot schools across the United States. 
1.
Samantha Smith’s book “Journey to the Soviet Union” was originally
published in 1985 and is now out of print. Samantha was an inspirational
figure for young people in her time, and we believe her story has
great potential to inspire a new generation. Republication of Samantha
Smith’s book in a new trade paperback edition is a key element in
the creation of the Peace Literature Project.