Agency Details:

Friends Forever

Friends Forever aims to encourage peace in areas of ethnic or religious conflict; we believe that peace can be achieved through open-minded discussion and the breakdown of barriers caused by prejudice and fear. Our organization funds opportunities for ethnically mixed groups of teen leaders from areas of conflict to interact with one another in a neutral setting. Our goal is to 'decommission' the dangerous prejudices that lead to violence.

Description:
Friends Forever brings ethnically mixed groups of teen leaders from target areas to the United States for team-building retreats. Currently, we are working with youth from communities in Northern Ireland and Jerusalem. Teen leaders who participate on our program come to the US for two to three weeks; they live together, eat together, and travel together for the entire duration of the program. During these weeks of team-building activities, the mystery of the 'other side' is inevitably broken down. Friends Forever teens learn to view one another as people, rather than as Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, or Jewish.
After the initial program, each group participates in perpetuation programs in its own community to reinforce the bonds built in the United States. Thus, families, friends, and neighbors become involved and the effects of the program are felt throughout the community.

History:
Friends Forever was founded in 1986 by Rotarian Robert Raiche. Through a partnership with a local YMCA, Mr. Raiche brought the first ten teens from Northern Ireland. Now, 21 years later, we are running 4 different Northern Ireland programs each year. We have also expanded our goals to bring one group of Israelis and Arabs on a retreat each summer. We hope to enlarge our Middle East program.

Contact person: Stephen Martineau, Executive Director, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (603) 433-7607

Address:

31 Raynes Ave #10 Portsmouth, NH 03801 (See a map)

Web Site: http://friendsforeverUSA.org

Directions:

From rt.95, enter the Portsmouth Rotary. Exit the Rotary going towards downtown Portsmouth. After exiting towards Portsmouth continue straight on the exit road (DON'T veer right up onto Woodbury Ave.) Take the Maplewood Ave. exit before the bridge into Maine. At the. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: Downtown Portsmouth, 8 minute walk

Last updated on March 26, 2009