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International Friendship DayLA Resource – April 2015

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International Friendship Day in Singapore

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• celebrated in schools on the 3rd Friday of Term 2

• is dedicated to the understanding of Singapore's relations with

neighbouring countries and beyond

• aims to nurture in students the spirit of friendship and

collaboration among different people

When and Why?

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• understand the different cultures beyond Singapore

• appreciate cultural diversity

• nurture a willingness to embrace others from diverse

backgrounds

• cultivate strong bonds of friendship between students and their

international friends

How?

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International Friendship Day(s) around the World

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• originally promoted by Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark

cards in 1930

• celebrated on 2nd August by sending cards

• Initially seen as too commercial, but popularity has increased

over time or since UN’s approval.

United States of America

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• the idea of a World Friendship Day was first proposed on 20

July 1958 by Dr. Artemio Bracho in Paraguay

• World Friendship Crusade founded to promote friendship and

fellowship among all human beings, regardless of race, color

or religion

• 30 July is celebrated as Friendship Day in Paraguay and

several other countries

Paraguay

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• In 2011, the United Nations recognised 30 July as World

Friendship Day

• Renamed it as the International Day of Friendship

• Invited all Member States to observe it in accordance with their

own culture and customs

• Encouraged to promote the event through education and

public awareness-raising activities

• In 1998, the UN Secretary's wife, Nane Annan, named Winnie

the Pooh as the Ambassador of Friendship at the UN

United Nations

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Friendship Day Quotes

On this International Day of Friendship, let us

cultivate warm ties that strengthen our

common humanity and promote the well-being

of the human family.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonFriendship is the only cement that will ever hold the world

together. 

 Woodrow Wilson

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Friendship Day Quotes

Winnie the Pooh, on The Joys of Friendship...

A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of 

honey left inside.

The only way to have a friend is to be one.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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The word ‘Friend’ in different languages…

Language Equivalent Word for Friend

Haitian zanmi

Finnish ystava

Japanese yujin

Mandarin pengyou

Dutch vreind

German freund

Portugese amigo

Bulgarian priyatel

Tamil nanbar

Malay rakan

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The word ‘Friend’ in different languages…

Language Equivalent Word for Friend

Indonesian teman

Filipino kaibigan

French ami

Greek filos

Korean chingu

Italian amico

Icelandic vinur

Somali saaxiib

Swahili rafiki

English friend