Even if you don’t work in event management, I’m sure you will agree with me that any excuse is good enough to organize a celebration with friends, regardless of what generation you belong to and how you call it: going out with the gang, hanging out with your pals, chillin’ with your crew…
The fact is that with friends, there is always something to celebrate… starting with friendship itself! That is why we encourage you to celebrate Friendship Day on July 30th. And well, what a great coincidence, it just happens to fall on a Saturday + Midsummer + vacation… So it’s a perfect day to thank and share!
The backdrop
“Just as friendship builds bridges between people, it can also inspire peace in our world.”
Friendship Day is not something “made up by shopping malls” but an educational and social initiative proposed by UNESCO and promoted by the United Nations, based on the idea that friendship between individuals and cultures inspires peace efforts and creates opportunities to build bridges between communities.
Through Friendship Day, United Nations encourages the international community “to hold events and activities that promote dialogue among civilizations, solidarity, mutual understanding and reconciliation”.
“Friendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world together.”
Although this day has been officially acknowledged since 2011, it all began in 1998 when Nane Annan, wife of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, made a surprising but sensible appointment: she named Winnie the Pooh as the world’s Ambassador of Friendship at the United Nations. Through his books, this loving bear and his pals from the Hundred Acre Wood have been teaching children important lessons of friendship for over a century.
“A friend is one of the nicest things you can have, and one of the best things you can be.”
At Akadama we encourage you to participate in this initiative, not only showing your gratitude to your friends but spreading the values of true friendship. Let’s show younger generations the real meaning of having friends (and how it differs with what they have on Facebook), let’s help them understand that no matter how many emoticons they use, or how many photos they share, nothing can compare to having a friend by your side. J
Ideas for celebrating Friendship Day
Any way of showing your friends how important they are to you, is great. But if you feel like doing something more creative, here are some ideas:
- Perform random acts of kindness for strangers, even anonymously if you like. This is a fantastic idea to do with children, so that they learn that giving can be more gratifying than receiving!
- Share smiles and kindness wherever you go, especially to those who seem discouraged.
- Dedicate your friends a song on the radio. It might seem a bit old-school 😉 but we are sure they will love it!
- Make a thank you card with a picture of you all, and if it’s a picture from way back when your friendship began, even better!
- For those of you who are at the beach or pool, buy a disposable underwater camera (they are very cheap) and enjoy clowning around in the water 😉
- Grab some blankets and something to eat, and host a night picnic at the beach. If you have kids, camping under the stars will be an incredible adventure!
- Invite your friends over for dinner and have a sleepover. But not only the children… the grownups too! Enjoy one of those chitchat gatherings that last from lunch till breakfast 🙂
- If you organize a lunch or dinner at home, don’t plan a formal meal sitting around a table. A more informal gathering will give everyone the chance of spending time together, and those who haven’t met will have an opportunity to get to know each other. After all, that is what Friendship Day is all about!
- Capture some happy memories in a poster or digital photo album, with space for you to write each other dedications.
- If you have children, help them do an easy craft or card for their friends while you talk about the things that make your friends special. Remember, the best way to teach is leading by example!
At Akadama Events we wish you a happy Friendship Day, and we hope you enjoy it in good company! J
