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Friendship Force Grove plaquesFriendship Force Grove plaques

 

Friendship Force International (FFI) is an international non-profit cultural organization focused on promoting understanding, cultural education and citizen diplomacy through home stay Journeys and personal friendships. There are 15,000 active members in more than 45 countries on six continents who take part in over 300 Journeys each year (Pre Covid-19). Through these exciting personal encounters, strangers become friends – and by experiencing different views, you can discover common ground.


Friendship Force of Lethbridge is just one of these many clubs. In 1994 we proudly became the first Friendship Force club in Canada. In 2014 we officially registered under the auspices of the Societies Act of Alberta.


Although home stay journeys to other clubs is a big part of Friendship Force, our club focuses on developing personal friendships among members.  Some members of our club do not travel but have joined our club for the friendship and various activities that are held.  The activities may include attending meetings every few months, L.E.O.’s (Lets eat out), picnics, BBQ’s, walking groups, trivia games, visiting and lots of laughter. Check out our calendar to find a list of our activities and please join us if you can.

 

Club members that travel on a Friendship Force journey are called "Ambassadors" and live as guests in the home of a "Host", taking part in their family activities and community life. Through this home hospitality the local hosts can share their lifestyle - meals and conversations - while showing us the best sights and experiences their area has to offer.  Occasionally Ambassadors and Hosts do not speak the same language or share similar backgrounds, yet the power of friendship overcomes these differences. Check out the clubs we have visited  and the clubs that have visited us.


A typical host itinerary in Lethbridge may include:

    • Welcome and farewell reception
    • Meeting the Mayor
    • Hosted Dinners
    • Venues we may visit  include:
        ◦ Nikka Yuko Gardens
        ◦ Galt Museum
        ◦ Fort Whoop Up
        ◦ Remington Carriage House
        ◦ Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump
        ◦ Frank Slide
        ◦ Waterton
        ◦ Birds of Prey
        ◦ Hutterite Colony
        ◦ Writing-on-Stone
    • The highlight of a Friendship Force Journey to Lethbridge is the installation of a remembrance plaque listing the club name and year of the visit.  The plaque is placed on a commemorative post in the Friendship Force Grove in Henderson Lake Park.  The post with all the plaques symbolizes world peace and understanding.

To discover more about Lethbridge and other Friendship Force Clubs in Alberta check out this Power Point or the websites listed below.

Travel Alberta
https://www.travelalberta.com/ca/

Lethbridge Tourism
https://tourismlethbridge.com/

City of Lethbridge
https://www.lethbridge.ca/Pages/default.aspx

Waterton National Park
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/waterton?utm_source=gmb&utm_medium=waterton

Edmonton Friendship Force
https://www.friendshipforceedmonton.org/

Calgary Friendship Force
https://ffcalgary.org/

Medicine Hat Friendship Force
http://friendshipforcemedicinehat.org/

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