Ali Shillingford, the Head Boy of the Convent Preparatory School on Wednesday launched a first of its kind event in Dominica: `Friendship Day`!
“Ever since I was a very young child, I`ve always heard my mother saying that one of her most fervent prayers is for my brother and I to attract good friendships into our lives,” he explained. “As we grow older and search for our independence we may often omit to rely on our parents for advice and it`s our friends who fill in the gap. Our friends can have a lot of influence on how we think, how we behave and ultimately they can influence `who` we become.”
He said throughout the calendar year we celebrate everything that is special to us from our culture to romantic love but somehow we overlook this amazing blessing of friendship.
“Friendship Day can be a tool in tackling this tar of society called `bullying`. Too often we seek to enhance peer relationships from the negative end; why not promote it from the positive end, by showcasing all that is wonderful and blessed about having good relationships,” he said.
The idea of Friendship Day was heartily embraced by the Principal and Staff of the school and activities on Wednesday include: A special assembly, performances, exchange of tokens and a poetry and short story competition under the theme `A true Friend is a gift from God`.
It is Shillingford`s hope that this initiative will be adopted nationwide and that Friendship Day will be an annual event celebrated throughout Dominica.
out of the mouth of babes.. ……,this boy.. a champion of .caplypso/karate/linguist -/all sports /public speaking
did my research ..gand son of Gordon Henderson and nephew of OJ ..
make room for him ..a leader in the making!
Excellent idea. This is one that nationals, children and adults alike should adopt.
Yes! these young ladies who keep looking down on each other and dragging each other’s names in the gutter…stop it, cus do so never like so.
Very good son – nice to see our youngsters, particularly males coming up with these ideas. Inspire your peers!
It should be celebrated in Dominica and could be done across schools, where friendships are encouraged especially between rural and urban schools. The country can choose its own date or use the 30th July date of the United Nations.
Since 30 July is normally summer time, a whole week of activities could be held culminating on that day. On the other hand, it could be celebrated during the school year to get more students and teachers involved. See link below
http://www.un.org/en/events/friendshipday/
This is a wonderful idea, I approve this day 100%.
Congrtulations my boy, this is wisdom from above. You are Dominica Solomon. All schools should embrace this idea and run with it. We need that frenship from policy makers, religious down to the paroe, God is speaking to us through this young boy, the Holy Spirit is moving in our country . Through this , we will be more loving and respectful people and our Nation will prosper.
Wow, congratulations brain child. Great initiative.
Brilliant original thats what we need thinkers
Well done De Ali – Junior Calypsonian!
How sweet. It’s good to note that the UN already instituted Friendship Day worldwide. Google it.
Is it adopted in Dominica?