Awesome Project

How can you help a friend who is feeling sad? A pep talk! Pep talks cheer people up. That was the idea behind the Peptoc project. Two teachers started it in 2022. They are Jessica Martin and Asherah Weiss.

It was a two-part project. One part was a phone hotline. People called a number to hear encouraging messages from kids. The other part was a poster project.

Now, Martin and Weiss have put together a book. It is called You Are Awesome Like a Rocket. It is a collection of 50 inspirational posters. They were made by young people. The kids live in 25 countries.

Martin spoke with TIME for Kids about the project. “It is just this incredible thing,” she says. “It started with this really simple idea that went all over the world.”

Would you like to make a poster? Here are some tips.

Think about it. Imagine someone who is having a tough time. What would you say to help them? Be positive!

Design your poster. Use plain paper and thick markers. Make your message pop! Use words, pictures, or both.

Share your poster. Hang it publicly. Choose a spot where lots of people will see it.