About Operation Friendship International

History
Operation Friendship originated in 1964. It was the brainchild of Rev. Wallace A. Shaw, an American minister at St. Margaret's Church of Scotland in Glenrothes. It was his desire to develop a youth exchange enabling the youth of one country to learn the different cultures of other countries and develop friendships around the world.

The invitation to participate in the idea was brought to the United States of America in the fall of 1964 by Mrs.David Anderson who shared it with her pastor, Rev. Robert L. Blackwell, the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Kearny, New Jersey. Soon afterwards it was extended to the Second Congregational Church, Palmer Massachusetts, through its pastor, Rev. Guthrie R. Swartz.

The first delegates of Operation Friendship journeyed from Scotland to the USA in 1965. The three youths were hosted by the Presbyterian Church in Kearny, New Jersey and the Second Congregational Church, Palmer, Massachusetts. The following year youth from New Jersey and Massachusetts visited Glenrothes, Scotland. Operation Friendship was off and running.

Growth of OF was rapid, there were exchange programmes with Sweden in 1966 and with Ireland in 1970. Now there are twelve participating countries.

In the spring of 1974 the first International Meeting was held in Scotland with delegates of each participating country. The first International Constitution was written in August 1974 at a meeting in Ireland.

United Nation
Operation Friendship is affiliated to the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organisation. This offers a channel through which information concerning the United Nations reaches the public.

Board
The board for Operation Friendship International consists of:
Chairman
Gerhard Steiner, Bavaria

Secretary
Linda Hogan, USA

Treasurer
Stefan Linderås, Sweden

Operation Friendship code of practice