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Friendship Force International, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia,
USA, was founded in 1977. Since then The Friendship Force has involved more than half a million volunteer Ambassadors
and Hosts, from more than 60 countries, in international homestays. This private, non-profit organization is not a travel
club. Sightseeing activities are included in many exchanges, yet the primary goal is always mutual understanding and
friendship. A Friendship Force Ambassador lives in a Host's home, taking part in family and community life. When
on an exchange, Ambassadors pay their own travel expenses plus an administrative fee to FFI. Home hosts provide hospitality
without reimbursement. Home hosts provide more than just room and board; they involve Ambassadors in their daily lives,
providing activities that reflect community life and local culture. While there are always group activities planned
during every visit, there is plenty of time for individual and small group activities including opportuntinies for those not
home hosting to serve as a day host.
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The Friendship Force of Chicago Chapter was founded in January of 1996.
Today it has grown
to almost 80 members in over 50 households in Chicago itself and the surrounding suburbs.
Some of our home hosts
live right in the city and others in our surrounding suburban communities. We are lucky to have an excellent public transportation
system and we plan exchanges to include activities not just in Chicago's beautiful downtown and lakefront parks, but also
its many diverse city neighborhoods and our beautiful suburban towns.
While we are proud of our many world
class sites--our museums, parks, skyscrapers, and outdoor sculptures (Picasso, Miro, Calder, Gehry, etc.)--an exchange is
really about FACES, NOT PLACES and goes beyond the chance to sightsee.
Since inception, our chapter has sponsored
several outbound exchanges to Japan and Korea , to Brazil, and to Hamburg, Germany and St. Petersburg, Russia, to Turkey,
to Tbilisi Georgia and Baku, to Indonesia, and most recently to New Zealand.
With all Chicagoland has to offer, our chapter has been a popular site for inbound exchanges. In the summer of 2004
we hosted a group of Ambassadors from Turkey, and in September, 19 Ambassadors from West Alujuea, Costa Rica visited us. Since
then we have had visitors from Australia and New Zealand and Germany and are looking forward to a group from France this summer.
Past inbounds included Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Gelsesnkirchen, Germany; Ankara, Turkey, Sao Paulo,
Brazil; Nelson, New Zealand; Osaka, Japan; the Gold Coast, Australia; and Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
As a member of FF-Chicago you are eligible to travel with all
of the US and Canadian FF clubs. There are usually about 80 travel opportunities offered each year. There are also some
specialized trips which match hosts and ambassadors with similar interests--from square dancing, gardening, and antiquing
to professional interest such as physical therapy.
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Join Us if...
- You like the challenge and excitement of new people, places and experiences.
- You believe that friendships among people of different nations and cultures can make the world more peaceful.
- You have a curiosity about the world and enjoy learning about cultures and ways of life.
Friendship Force members are people who enjoy new experiences and believe that friendship can be a catalyst for improved
world relations. Key qualifications are an adventurous spirit, a flexible approach to new situations and a wish to make new
friends, here at home and around the world.
For more information about FF International and to see all outbound
exchanges from the US coming up this year, follow the link to www.thefriendshipforce.org, the new web address.
Click here to go to FF International website
Cathy Cameron, President, accepts Volunteer Organization of the Year Award from International Visitors Center of Chicago.
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