World Friendship Day, also known as International Day of Friendship takes place on 30th July. The day places emphasis on involving young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures.
The first World Friendship Day was proposed for 30 July 1958 by the World Friendship Crusade, an international civil organisation that campaigns to foster a culture of peace through friendship. Many years later, in 2011, the 30th July was declared as the International Day of Friendship by the General Assembly of United Nations.
With the growing popularity of social media throughout the world, there has been an increase in celebrating World Friendship day and International Day of Friendship online as well as with community activities in local communities aimed at bringing those of different backgrounds together.
The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the United Nations General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.
The resolution places emphasis on involving young people, as future leaders, in community activities that include different cultures and promote international understanding and respect for diversity.
To mark the International Day of Friendship the United Nations encourages governments, international organizations and civil society groups to hold events, activities and initiatives that contribute to the efforts of the international community towards promoting a dialogue among civilizations, solidarity, mutual understanding and reconciliation.
The International Day of Friendship is an initiative that follows on the proposal made by UNESCO defining the Culture of Peace as a set of values, attitudes and behaviours that reject violence and endeavour to prevent conflicts by addressing their root causes with a view to solving problems. It was then adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1997.
Quotes on Friendship
Let us all move together, let us all grow together,
Let us all stay united and grow in intelligence together,
Let us live together with friendship and harmony.
There is nothing greater than truth. Truth is only one, not two. By associating yourself with good people, you will also become good.
Who are real friends? It is only the good people who are real friends to you. Tell me your company, and I shall tell you what you are. Hence, you must always join good company, talk to good people, and live with good people. Only then will you become a good person. Otherwise, you will spoil yourself.
Good friends shall always strive to work for the good of each other and bring about a transformation in each other. If for any reason your friend takes to bad ways on any occasion, of what use is your friendship if you do not try to bring him back into good path? On the other hand, if you are taking to bad ways, your friend should help you to come back to normal ways. Thus, trying to help each other to tread the good path is the hallmark of true friendship.
However, friends in present time wish each other “hello” and separate. Later, they say “goodbye”. Such attitude is not good. Instead of saying, “goodbye,” become a good boy. Thus, you must tread the path of truth in daily life. Only then will you become an educated and courageous person in the real sense, with a sense of discrimination.
You must all become heroes, adventurous and bold; prepare for that role from now on. Man has inside him a whole set of animals: the dog, the fox, the ass, the wolf. But he must suppress the tendencies of all these animals and encourage the human qualities of love and friendship to shine forth. Friendship that is cultivated from childhood onwards is more lasting and so try to cultivate real friends now. Above all, begin the cultivation of virtues; that is more important and beneficial than mere book learning. That gives real bliss; that is the essence of all knowledge, the culmination of all learning.
