INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FRIENDSHIP PHOTO STORIES

Fostering Peace Through Human Connection

July 30th was first declared as International Day of Friendship in 2011. And since then, the world comes together on this day to celebrate strong bonds between nations, cultures, and individuals to promote peace and unity.

In preparation for the International Day of Friendship this year, see how children around the world are inspired by the friendships formed in some of their hardest times.

Friends see your value and worth

World Vision sponsorship opened up lots of doors for Anh Thu. She was encouraged to join different activities and the Children’s Club, where she met new friends.

“We visited each other’s houses, studied and went to school together. That’s how we built and nurtured our friendships,” Anh Thu says. “Having good friends who understood me and loved me made me no longer afraid of going to school. Classmates saw me as a friend who could play and study with them.”

Photo: Anh Thu (right, blue shirt) loves to spend time at the Children’s Club with her friends.

Sponsors are like family

Over the years, a strong bond has developed between Ketzarly and his sponsors. Their support is an excellent motivator for him at school where his academic results are thriving, and he’s encouraged to keep going.

Ketzarly sees his sponsors as family. "I want to be in touch with my sponsors in the future. One of my biggest dreams is to see our beautiful friendship continue," he says.

Photo: Ketzarly (right, blue shirt) and his mother, Aline (left, pink shirt).

Unity found in conflict

Anna and Dasha’s friendship is an example of the resilience of the human spirit. Despite their initial discomfort with one another, it was the trials of the devastating war in Ukraine, and the challenges of being displaced in a shelter that they found each other.

Their growing friendship is a source of strength, hope, and the unwavering belief that one day, they will see better days and peace once more.

Photo: Anna (left) and Dasha (right).

Paying it forward in his community

Brayan lives in a community with lots of violence. He had no social contact with other children a couple of years ago. Through World Vision’s peace clubs, the community is experiencing and promoting trust, creating a safe space and protection environment for boys and girls.

“Before I joined the peace club, I thought I was the only child here. I had no friends,” Brayan says. “Today, I have many friends and I help other children who are joining the peace clubs.”

Photo: Brayan (left) stands with one of the friends he met at the peace club.

Forming friendships in the name of peace

In August 2023, World Vision (with the support of community leaders, teachers and parents) organized a recreational afternoon in a community in Honduras. Over 450 children of all the peace clubs formed in the area were in attendance.

These boys and girls work every day within their communities to achieve a culture of peace, and on this special day, they all got together to enjoy their childhood.

Photo: A group of children at the World Vision Peace club gathering in Honduras.

Watch out for our next issue, coming soon!

We hope you enjoyed these photo stories about the hope and peace friendship provides in some of life’s challenging moments.

We want you feeling encouraged to nurture strong bonds and foster peace through your own friendships, especially the one you have with your sponsored child.