What is the Friendship Force?

Friendship Force is a non-profit organization focused on promoting understanding, cultural education and citizen diplomacy through homestay Journeys and personal friendships. We are based in more than 60 countries and in six continents, with 15,000 active members and over 300 Journeys taking place each year. Typically, members of one local Friendship Force club travel together to be home hosted by members of another local Friendship Force club in another country.

Through these exciting personal encounters, strangers become friends – and we know that by experiencing different views, you can discover common ground.

Our programs bring diverse people together into each other’s cultures and homes to share one-of-a-kind experiences not available to regular tourists.

PHILOSOPHY: Every friendship formed across the barriers of nationality, language, religion or politics makes the world a better place.

HISTORY: Founded in 1977 by Wayne Smith with US President Jimmy Carter. Honored with a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 1992. Celebrating our 40th Anniversary in 2017.

WHAT: A non-profit cultural organization focused on promoting understanding, cultural education and citizen diplomacy through homestay Journeys and personal friendships. Through these exciting personal encounters, strangers become friends – and we know that by experiencing different views, you can discover common ground. Friendship Force International conducts over 300 programs every year, in over 350 communities throughout more than 60 countries. Our programs bring diverse people together into each other’s cultures and homes to share one-ofa-kind experiences not available to regular tourists. When you travel or host with the Friendship Force, you get to know real people by sharing real life. Friendships are formed that often last a lifetime. HOW: Our unique Friendship Force Journeys provide international travelers with opportunities to be hosted by local people, and to be treated to a local experience in places around the world, seeing the world through other people’s eyes.

WHO: Friendship Force members are ordinary people like you, living all over the world, who are eager to welcome you into their culture and their life, sharing insights and experiences that are not available to tourists. By sharing experiences, a home, meals, and conversations, we believe we can reach a new level of understanding among the human family.