Student of Political Science and International Relations,

Russia; FAF international project coordinator

I was a little afraid how people who have nothing to share in common but their grief will feel gathered together for our weekend camp project … kids influenced by the tragedy of the September 11 and their families – with different backgrounds and different interests, of different ages and different opinions; the only thing they have in common is they all suffered of the terrorist attacks on the WTC.

Yes, it’s true that people can be united by a grief but these unions are usually very sad and very often bitter. This is not what these people need to overcome the depression and to come back to their lives without anger or fear. What Friendship Ambassadors was trying to achieve was creating of a totally different kind of union – a union based on something universal, something easily understood, loved and shared by everybody – art, dance, music, and even a culinary sharing!

FAF brought international counselors like Paolo Rico and myself from the Philippines helps to see the outside world not as something potentially threatening but quite the opposite – friendly, sympathetic and always ready to help.

As the many years experience FAF has in promoting tolerance through cultural exchange shows, there are few better tools to make each of us see in each other ‘just people’. FAF programs help those effected relax, enjoy themselves, open their minds, and clarify their consciousness.

At the dance workshop with Bill and Livia Vanaver, young people learned dances from around the world; at the circus Workshop with Bond Street Theatre, they got exciting experiences like walking on stilts and juggling. At first it was just fun but when we look deeper; every activity has its message, like a candy that has a sweet remedy inside. For example, by learning stilt walking, people also learned to trust each other. Nobody can put on the stilts and just walk alone – first one needs supporters to help them. With two people to rely on, one begins to believe that they won’t fall down. Isn’t this symbolic?

The results were amazing. By the end of the weekend children were already ‘best friends ever’ and their parents were exchanging phone numbers and making plans together. And of course the most articulate confirmation of this success was the international dinner we had on Saturday evening when people cooked meals that were typical for their cultures during the holidays.

Despite of the fact that we didn’t know what people would like to cook, how much time would it require, and what products will they need, in the end we had the very right amount of everything … and right on time! After the enjoyable meal, dancing, and pleasant conversations, we all went to bed full of impressions and energy for the new working week, a little sad for our too-soon departure and looking forward to seeing each other at the next Lions Clubs International gathering!

Other Peer counselors included James Young, with Olga on the left, and Paolo Rico from the Philippines, teaching children to play, on the right.