Each Friends Forever program focuses on one culturally-mixed group of ten teenagers from the same target community. These teens are chosen based on both leadership ability and a desire to make peaceful change in their communities.

The first phase of the program is an intensive, two-week "Life Raft" retreat in the United States in which participants focus on group work, team building, self-expression, and peaceful conflict resolution. While living as a family in one home, the group shares the duties of the household and learns to cooperate through numerous group discussions.

The core elements of the US program include:

1. Participation in trust-building activities on high and low ropes
2. Community presentations
3. Team volunteer service-challenge projects
4. Observation of the religious services of each culture represented on the program
5. Group living environment

Throughout the two-week program, Friends Forever participants are almost never separated from one another. Each day's challenges must be worked out together as a team. After supporting and encouraging one another throughout the varied challenges of the program, our participants return home feeling that they have gained nine new brothers and sisters.

Since 2001, the Rotary Club of Orlando has sponsored The Friends Forever group from Northern Ireland every October. This involves raising approximately $18,000 and planning the logistics of their two-week stay. For more information on this project, contact Tom Olsen at 407-423-5561 or at tom@tropa.com.