烏干達的坎帕拉與美國亞利桑那州土森市相互分隔的直線距離雖然約近9,200英里(約1萬4,800公里)，兩地的年輕人正透過大使獎學金學生歐潔雅•班克斯發起的計劃，發現彼此的世界。

Though separated by nearly 9,200 miles (approximately 14,800 kilometers) as the crow flies, young people in Kampala, Uganda, and Tucson, Arizona, USA, are discovering one another's worlds through a program initiated by Ambassadorial Scholar Ojeya Cruz Banks.

在由第5500地區(亞利桑那州)所輔導贊助的班克斯在接待的第9200地區(包括烏干達)的學校演講後，有烏干達學生表示想找美國筆友，於是誕生這個年輕人跨文化教育計劃的構想。

The idea of a multicultural education program for youth originated from a Ugandan student's request for an American pen friend after Banks, sponsored by District 5500 (Arizona), spoke at a school in host District 9200, which includes Uganda. 

班克斯說：「我想這會是很棒的構想，尤其是這樣的『筆友關係』如能加以引導，將可使個人深入瞭解另外一個文化。」同時是教育工作者、舞者、兼歌手的班克斯，正在坎帕拉的馬克瑞里大學進行研究，這是她取得亞利桑那大學教育學院的語言、閱讀、文化方面博士學位的條件之一。

"I thought it was a great idea especially if the 'penpalship' could be guided in ways that maximize an individual's understanding of another culture," says Banks, an educator, dancer, and singer. She is conducting research at Makerere University, Kampala, as part of the requirements for a doctoral degree in language, reading, and culture through the College of Education at the University of Arizona. 

一群來自坎帕拉學生中心的學生起草了一個計劃宗旨，包括促進跨文化交流、友誼、愛心、和團結；將刻板印象減至最低；並培養自由寫作等技巧。

A group of students from Kampala Student Centre drew up a project mission that includes fostering cross-cultural exchange, friendship, love, and unity; minimizing stereotypes; and developing skills such as creative writing styles. 

於是，「多文化對話協會」誕生，由班克斯擔任執行長。她的丈夫柯拉班迪和亞利桑那州2位教授擔任副執行長。

Thus, Multicultural Dialogues was born, with Banks as director. Her husband, Martin Klabunde, and two professors at the University of Arizona serve as co-directors. 

多文化對話協會在2002年推出第一項計劃。坎帕拉學生中心的7名學生和土森聯合學區的學校挑選出來的學生配對成為筆友。

Multicultural Dialogues launched its first project in 2002. Seven students at Kampala Student Centre were paired with their peers drawn from schools in the Tucson Unified School District in a pen-pal program.  

班克斯說：「未來我想讓更多國家參與，可是在此階段，我們的工作是滿的。」然而，如果她取得更多贊助─主要是電腦、郵資、和文具一一這個計劃將可真正變得更國際化。

"In the future I would like to see more countries involved, but at this stage our plate is full," says Banks. However, if she secures more sponsorship, mainly for computers, postage, and stationery, the program will become truly international.