Hello there! I’m Malavika, the co-founder of this cult. I mean, secret society. I mean- club. (That sounds considerably less exciting, and I insist that you refer to this organization as anything other than what it is.) I’m in my third year, studying Economics with minors in Statistics and Women and Gender Studies.

I've always loved letters, but when I came to U of T, I met Yanni, who convinced me that we should correspond using the postal service. My first-ever letter to her was two pages, complete with illustrations, plus a teeny, delightful Christmas card that was lost forever. I haven't stopped mourning it.

This photo was taken at the Trinity College book fair, a glorious institution that Yanni and I attended together in 2019.

Hey beans - I’m Yanni, the other co-founder of this club. I’m in my third year at U of T, and I’m double majoring in English and Psychology.

I started writing letters to keep in touch with my friends in the Philippines when I first migrated to Canada. It evolved to just sending things to the people I love, no matter where they are in the world. Y’all should ask Malavika! We used to exchange letters on campus - just hand them to each other for fun. Now, we actually do need to use the Canada Post to get things to each other, but that’s cool beans too. And now we're a club! Cheers!

(look! A Picture of me from the Trinity College book fair: I'm inspecting a crossword puzzle book, as one does.)

Heyo - I'm José!

I'm a treasurer with the club. I'm going into my fourth year doing statistics, and I have struggled a lot with it, but I really enjoy making cool graphs.

I recently got into writing letters when I joined the IPPI, and that's been a lot of fun. Keeping in touch with people that way feels more special :)

This year was the first time I sent a physical letter through the mail to another country. It never actually got to its destination (thanks, Mexican post), but it was a fun experience nonetheless. In fact, I liked it so much that I decided to join the exec team of the club so that I can help spread the letter-writing experience to everyone on campus!

(That's a picture of half of my face and my favorite painting of a chonky dog)

Hi, my name is Olivia!

I sent my first letter addressed to my cousin in the Philippines when I was 5 - well if you could consider scribbles in kindergarten-level English a letter. My grandmother helped me write it and I remember her patiently holding a pen down after every word I wrote to ensure that I put spaces between my words sothattherewereactualsentenceshaha (so that there were actual sentences, haha). I hope I've grown in my writing and note-taking abilities to the point where I can properly carry out my secetarial duties for the club!

I'm studying environmental science and immunology! The way in which different parts of a natural/biological system interact, learn, and communicate, with one another to maintain harmony really interests me. I think these qualities can also be applied to what M.A.I.L aims to accomplish within, and beyond the UofT community. I'm really excited to see how this club grows and I'm super grateful to be a part of it.

Oh, you're asking about the green hippo? That's Roger.