Operation Friendship - Ireland

WHAT IS OPERATION FRIENDSHIP?

Operation Friendship International is a voluntary organization to promote friendship and understanding around the world by means of international youth exchanges. Through these programmes Operation Friendship International will foster in its participants developments of personality, character and increased social awareness. This preamble to the Constitution perfectly summaries the objectives of the organization. Operation Friendship Ireland is a member of Operation Friendship International, along with similar national organizations in the Czech Republic, England, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden, U.S.A./ and Wales. Further countries are actively encouraged to join. Each country has a number of local groups and a national executive committee. The concepts of Operation Friendship is a programme of exchange visits, with local groups hosting a group from another country for a period of two to three weeks, providing a programme of social, cultural and outdoor activities, the visitors staying in the homes of their hosts for most of the visit. The following year the hosting delegates travel to the country whose delegates they hosted and take part in a similar programme. Prospective members must, therefore be prepared to make at least a two-year commitment.

WHO MAY TAKE PART?

The travelling and hosting delegates must be between the ages of 15 and 21 for most countries. However Operation Friendship encompasses the whole family, and older or younger members and parents, become involved in planning and participating in the programme and the necessary fund-raising activities.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

The travelling group, ideally consisting of ten delegates, and accompanied by an adult Advisor, is responsible for the cost of travel and insurance to and from their destination. Travelling delegates are encouraged to pay their costs by installments, and grants may be available to reduce the amount that they have to contribute. The hosting group is responsible for the total cost of the hosting programme. This includes accommodation, food, transport and admission charges as required. As there is a considerable expenditure during the hosting period, each group has a continuous fund-raising programme.

HISTORY OF OPERATIONF RIENDSHIP

Operation Friendship has its origins in Glenrothes, in Scotland. In 1964, the founder was the Rev. Wallace Shaw, who encouraged members of his Church Youth Club to travel to America to make contacts there, and invite an American group back to Scotland the following year. As the idea spread, a group of young Americans came to Ireland in 1970, and in 1971 the first Irish teenagers traveled to the U.S.A. There have been continuing exchange visits from then until the present time, and well over one thousand delegates have traveled in each direction. The exchange programme with Operation Friendship America continues to be the main attraction for our members, but in recent years Operation Friendship Ireland has looked Eastward as well as Westward, and exchanges have taken place with the Czech Republic, Germany, and the Netherlands.

STATUS

Operation Friendship International is affiliated to the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization. Operation Friendship Ireland is recognized and supported by the British Council through itsYouth Exchange Committee, by Southern Education and Library Board, and by Craigavon Borough Council and Dungannon District Council.