By: Randal Chow

The One Love Foundation at the University of Maryland hosted a letter-writing event attended by approximately 40-50 students outside Stamp Student Union with the goal of teaching individuals how to love better – an attribute that can be applied to relationships: romantic, familial, professional and even with oneself, said Sahana Kundu, One Love UM co-president and senior physiology and neurobiology major.

On Oct. 12 students had the opportunity to write a letter to themselves or a friend. They could write something they’re proud of themselves for, words of self-encouragement or affirmation or a goal to work on or express their appreciation for one another. 

One Love aims to facilitate self-love through a creative medium, said senior public policy major and One Love UM co-president Hannah Goad Persaud.

Writers could take the letter or leave it with the group for them to return it to its author at the end of the semester, Goad Persaud explained. Seeing their letter a few months later provides writers with a tangible receipt of something they did for themselves.

“The goal of the love letters event is to learn how to better love one another and make people feel they are valued and be a healthy presence in someone’s life,” said Goad Persaud.

One Love was founded in 2010 in honor of UVA student Yeardley Love, who’s ex-boyfriend killed her one week after they broke up. Love’s family recognized retrospectively that there were many signs that her relationship was not healthy, Kundu said.

The foundation focuses on providing people with the language and skills to communicate openly about their thoughts and feelings in a non-stigmatizing and nonjudgmental environment, added Kundu.

When advising someone who believes their friend or family is in an abusive relationship, One Love UM’s event coordinator Izzy Grable, a sophomore and public policy major, said, “It’s about naming. Usually, the victims don’t want to hear that they’re in an abusive relationship,” she said. “So, it’s about pointing out actions that you think are unhealthy. It’s just about continuously having that conversation, ‘Hey, how does that make you feel when you’re treated like this?’”

One Love’s main goal is to share education and improve communication in all kinds of relationships. “The need for healthy communication and being able to address things in a healthy manner, treat others with the respect they deserve, be treated with the respect you deserve, comes from learning healthy communication and being able to engage in those conversations. So, people think this is just for romantic relationships, everyone can benefit from it,” Kundu said.

Students interested in joining One Love can send an email to the group at umcponelove@gmail.com or follow the foundation @umdonelove on Instagram.