International Day of Friendship
July 30th
What’s it about?
International Day of Friendship reminds us of the importance of friends and the role they play in our lives. On a larger scale, it encourages us to acknowledge and foster friendships based on mutual understanding. Growing between individuals and communities, transcending race, ethnicity, religion, and nationality.
The day serves as an opportunity for people to reach out to their friends as well as make new ones. It asks us to engage in acts of kindness, promoting initiatives that contribute to social cohesion and understanding. It encourages people to bridge gaps, build connections, and promote a sense of empathy and compassion towards one another.
Its acceptance was a natural progression from the 1997 UN General Assembly’s agreement. Looking to embrace the Culture of Peace, and to work towards rejecting violence and preventing conflict, by promoting values and behaviours which encompassed this ethos.
The UN believes friendship can play a crucial role in promoting peace, harmony, and solidarity among people, leading to a more tolerant and inclusive society, and so it was decided in 2011 that July the 30th should be International Day of Friendship. An idea that was first suggested by Dr Ramon Artemio Bracho in Paraguay, in 1958.
Edinburgh Napier University’s International Friendship Club
At Edinburgh Napier University, through the Friendship Club, our students get the opportunity to meet and interact with other students studying at the University from all over the world. Hosted by the Visa and International Support team, the International Friendship Club carries out events throughout the academic year.
Sitcoms and Friendships
And of course, there have been sitcoms about friendships, following the trials and tribulations they face in life, work, and relationships. Going on to “become a pop culture staple for their relatability and hilarious dynamics”. Some of the popular friendship-based sitcoms have been:
Friends
The Big Bang Theory
That 70’s show
Seinfield
New Girl
The Young Ones
How is the day celebrated?
The day is celebrated in various ways with events and activities taking place, including community gatherings, workshops, and awareness campaigns, all aimed at promoting friendship and cultural exchange.
How will you be celebrating friendship day?
Tell us your thought in the comments
By Mo Almas
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