May 29, 2019
Announcements
Pres. Tom: Reminded us about the last "Recovery with Hope and Dignity" opioid conference coming up on Mon, Jun 3rd, at 6 PM in the Garrison Rm at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.
Program
Chelsea Fitter, Senior Program Manager for Friends Forever, brought us up to date about Friends' activities. It began life in Portsmouth in 1986 as a 501c(3) to contribute to mutual understanding among a new generation of Catholic and Protestant children after the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It expanded its work to Israel, working with Jewish and Arab kids.
The program starts with an invitation to school officials to identify students who might be positive participants in the program, moves on to a 10 - 14 day period spent here in the U.S. working together, and finally return to their country to implement a community service project together. Beyond designing that community project while they're here, they develop leadership and public speaking skills. Friends works to involve the parents as well when the students return. Later, as alumni, they assist returning groups to implement their planned projects.
Friends Forever has started to work up programs in Cyprus and Belize. It has also hosted professional exchanges with Turkish and Greek groups in Cyprus and similar groups in the Ukraine who want to start Friends Forever-type programs.
Their working capital depends on two annual fundraisers as well as grassroots support. It receives no government support.
Megabucks: $321.50
Editor: Ric
