WELCOME
Friendship Force Offers:
- The challenge and excitement of new people, places and experiences.
- Friendships among people of different nations and cultures.
- The learning of other cultures and ways of life throughout the world.
- Fosters international friendship and understanding through homestays.
What is Friendship Force?
Founded in 1977 in the U.S.A. with a single mission "To create an environment where personal friendships can be established across barriers that separate people"
Friendship Force has some 350 member clubs in 60 countries. Visit FFI web site at www.thefriendshipforce.org
About the Isle of Wight club.
The club was charted in 1988 and currently has 75 members. We host two clubs from other countries every year.
About the Exchanges.
Visits are normally called exchanges. The outgoing one is usually in the autumn, and lasts for 2 weeks with a week in each destination. Members going on an exchange are called Ambassadors, and the club they are visiting arranges for them to stay in members homes where they are treated as guests. A full programme of events will be arranged in which both ambassadors, hosts and club members can participate.
The incoming exchange is usually in May/June for one week. Ambassadors are met by the organiser (Exchange Director) at either the airport or ferry terminal depending on their inward travel arrangements. Transport eg coach, can be arranged from the airport to the Island, and on departure. Closest major airports are London Heathrow, Gatwick and Southampton. The maximum number of ambassdors we can host is 21, but we may be able to exceed this on request. The weeks programme will include Welcome and Farewell parties, tour of the Island, visit to Osborne House and other attractions.
Participation.
This is purely voluntary as it is appreciated that not everybody, for various reasons, can go on an outward exchange, but it is hoped that all members will participate in some way in an incoming exchange either by hosting, being a day host or helping with social events etc. A full programme of events is also arranged for members throughout the year. See page 3 for details.
E'mail Address.
For further information E'mail - friendshipforceiow@hotmail.com