Pictured: The FINALE music piece at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center, featuring the Huntington Middle School Orchestra of California, the international World Children's Choir, and two, combined middle school orchestras from the Langston Hughes Middle School of Virginia. Over 200 Middle School youth from across the United States gathered in Washington D.C. to perform in the gala, fund raising concert produced by FAF, on April 8, 2010.

Indeed, pictured above is the product of magical work across communities and time zones, bringing together the arts with youth service in support of UNICEF USA's Haiti Relief.

ANOTHER VIEW FROM THE ROAD
Notes for FAF's Executive Director, Patrick Sciarratta

In the last newsletter, I spoke about my winter visit to the Philippines. Hard not to like Southeast Asia in wintertime but the need for development is great. Friendship Ambassadors Foundation is proud to be creating opportunity for increased numbers of Americans to learn about the region while contributing their art and volunteer service to its continued development.

In July FAF's local counterparts will help the Foundation host a fine US performance ensemble, Synergy - and we look forward to having your group or ensemble join us during one of many projects FAF will be helping to lead there in the future.

In fact, I have finally returned to my desk this week. Last week, I traveled with the Huntington Middle School Orchestra on a fun tour to Washington D.C. They got to perform and create a music exchange with two other local orchestras. The high point for me, pictured above, was their moving concert at the Schlesinger Hall on April 8, 2010 in support of Haiti.

Their fund raiser for Haiti, which also featured the incredible World Children's Choir and both of the Middle School Orchestras that they had music exchanges with, from Langston Hughes High School, made for a fantastic artistic event. FAF's Artistic Director, Ms. Yin-Chu Jou,should be proud of this fine cultural and service event, contributing an amount (and still counting!) for UNICEF-USA's relief work in the earthquake-ravaged nation.

First Lady Michelle Obama recognized the Huntington Middle School Orchestra's gallant effort to travel to Washington D.C., stating in a personally signed note, that she "appreciated the effort" and told them to "keep up the good work." FAF remains particularly pleased when we can turn a concert tour, into an event that makes a difference in people's lives and an impact in communities they serve.

Prior to D.C., I traveled through Eastern China. I addressed the 2010 World Summit on the Innovation Economy in Nantong, China. I also spoke at the Tangshan Vocational College to over 2000 university students, and gave presentations on FAF's upcoming 7th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations to prospective youth leader delegates at Remnin University in Beijing, one of the country's finest.

Through the Foundation's growing contacts throughout Asia, your group, ensemble, or gathering would be well served by letting FAF handle all of your programming and facilitation details. I am seeing first hand these days how good organizations can do great programs abroad when FAF's team is on their side.

Safe and Meaningful Travel to You and Yours,
Patrick Sciarratta
FAF E.D.

"I appreciate your time and effort, am grateful for your support and am quite overwhelmed with pride to read the amount of effort you have made on behalf of our trip. You have a true concept of what diplomacy involves and effect it repeatedly."
- John McIntyre, Tour Coordinator, Greenwich Choral Society, June 2008 (Part of FAF's Sister City Project between Greenwich, CT and Vienne, France)

"The Movement Laboratory Youth Ensembles' 'Goodwill thru Dance Program' has traveled with FAF for over 20 years ... Thanks FAF for helping ... We will continue to create illuminate and teach peace."
- Judy Williams Henry, Founder and Artistic Director

A new relationship for FAF: with the Abraham Path Initiative (API)
OVERVIEW OF THE INTERCULTURAL HIKE
Connecting the Human Family Step by Step
Are you interested in the experience of a lifetime?
Well, the Abraham Path offers such an opportunity as one of the most outstanding cultural itineraries in the world. Proceeding south from the Silk Road town of Harran in Southeastern Turkey, the path crosses one of the richest historical landscapes on earth, from the great Islamic centers of Aleppo and Damascus to the old pilgrimage cities of the Holy Land. Along the way, the trail winds through the Biblical scenery of the desert and descends through the olive groves and wildflowers that dot the landscape. Those who make this journey, now being offered to small groups of 15 to 20 people, will discover a chain of Roman ruins, medieval castles and desert monasteries, and extraordinary sites related to Abraham.

FAF's Inaugural, Familiarization Trip for Group Leaders and Others:
Dec 27 - Jan 7, 2010: Israel, Palestine, and Jordan
(Including an optional, pre-hike extension to
Jerusalem from Dec 23-26 for those seeking a
Christmastime, Holy Land experience, too).
2011-2012: Path opens for small groups interested in the arts, cultural exchange, new routes for hiking, spiritual experiences, and offers great learning opportunities with local API guides who really know the region, its history, and cultures.

Click below to view two active API itineraries whose dates can be changed to be 'ready to go' when your group is ... actual upcoming dates are subject to change and customized to meet the needs of each group or class!

For over 36 years, Friendship Ambassadors Foundation has been a global force bringing millions of people together through meaningful cultural exchange programmes.

Our new Asian focus reflects the interests and connections of our Artistic Director, Ms. Yin-Chu Jou. Ms. Jou has created excellent Asian programming for many of our ensembles and groups over the past several years; we invite you to click below and see a few of them now!

Please contact FAF's Artistic Director, Ms. Yin-Chu Jou (yinchu@faf.org; 1-800-526-2908) to discuss your Asia plans so you have all the information in hand when your group meets.

Announcing:
2010 Discover True Friendship Service Tour:
Costa Rica
July 7-19, 2010 | San Jose, Costa Rica

Reduced Cost! Thanks to a generous donation, the participant cost has now been reduced by $250!

Join the INTERNATIONAL RELIEF FRIENDSHIP FOUNDATION (IRFF) as they renovate the dining and shelter facilities of the Light for the Nations Foundation, a nonprofit that provides meals to neglected children and cares for the elderly in Tejarcillos, a community on the outskirts of San Jose. In addition, IRFF participants will be meeting with organizations to learn about the social challenges faced by the people of Costa Rica, and will visit the rainforest and an active volcano in one of the world's most beautiful countries.

IRFF is looking for committed, adventurous and hard working young men and women.

Applications are Due April 30th. Apply Now online, click below! Please email Paul Byrne, Assistant International Executive Director, IRFF, at byrneIRFF@yahoo.com with any questions.

"This is the kind of project that FAF loves to develop," says Victor Izquierdo, Friendship Ambassadors Foundation's Project Coordinator for Latin America. "I traveled with Mr. Byrne to Costa Rica to set up the program last month and came back very impressed," he continued.

"IRFF and FAF have created an experiential learning program, open to high school students, that will bring young men and women to Costa Rica, a safe but developing country, to work on a reconstruction project in a needy community. There, they will learn about other challenges facing local people, while experiencing Costa Rican culture and customs firsthand."

"FAF has collaborated with IRFF in order to provide an opportunity to create mutual understanding and friendship with youth of other countries and cultures," Mr. Izquierdo concluded, "in a way that will positively affect lives on both sides. FAF is always proud to be a part of bridging differences."

GREAT, SUMMER CONCERT TOUR OPTION · An Appearance in NYC during the annual Youth Assembly at the U.N. and A Week in NYC at a Glance, FAF Style!

Here is one itinerary, right in the newsletter:

Day 1- Upon arrival in New York City, an FAF representative will be there to welcome you. Board your private motor coach for your transfer to your accommodations in Midtown Manhattan. After settling in and depending on arrival times, enjoy a welcome dinner at a nearby restaurant or a short FAF orientation before turning in for the night.
Day 2- Board your private motor coach this morning to the Empire State Building; tour the Observatory Tower. After getting to know New York from above, take some free time to discover 5th Avenue and the Grand Central Station area. Your motor coach will take you to your first indoor performance and exchange. Have dinner together at a restaurant nearby, arranged by FAF.
Day 3 - Enjoy breakfast then join FAF staff and interns: explore the famous Metropolitan Museum of Art (entrance included), one of the world's finest museums. Have lunch in the museum's cafeteria. Enjoy some free time in the afternoon for shopping or individual sightseeing. Tonight: special exchange opportunities will be tailored for each group.
Day 4- After breakfast, stroll through Rockefeller Center and the famous Central Park. Visit the Central Park Zoo, Conservatory Garden, enjoy the Carousel and Carriage Rides, or do some boating on the Lake. In the afternoon, board your motor coach for your transfer to Greenwich, Connecticut. Concert in the Greenwich community. Reception and dinner arranged after the performance.
Day 5 - Depart to Downtown and take a cruise to the Statue of Liberty. Upon arrival, prepare for your first outdoor concert at the Statue of Liberty Flagpole area. After a fun, al fresco performance, take time on your own to explore the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Upon your return to Manhattan, visit Ground Zero. Explore Chinatown and Little Italy. Tonight: special exchange opportunities will be tailored for each group.
Day 6 - In the early afternoon, meet for lunch at the hotel and then transfer to United Nations headquarters in New York City for a visit and your concert. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour of this vital peacemaking institution. Visit the gift shop for your souvenirs. Mail them with special stamps available only from the UN! In the early evening, if dates work out, join other international performers for the annual U.C. Peace Arts Festival related to the annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations. This is also an award ceremony for UN officials involved with cultural activities.
Day 7 - After breakfast, enjoy a 2-hour, semi-circle cruise around Manhattan, which will be a breathtaking experience and allow you to get to know some of the history of Manhattan, New Jersey and Brooklyn. In the afternoon, enjoy some free time at Times Square. After an early dinner at Times Square, enjoy an included, evening performance on Broadway tonight!
And: all at a very inviting price that is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law through FAF. Make an impact at a fraction of the cost of high rate, for-profit tour operators (Actually, even tour operators use FAF these days to increase the impact of their tours and lower costs overall. With no profit motive whatsoever, the Foundation is happy to oblige.)

"If you saw the impact you have on youth (and young at heart), you would have to shade your eyes from the brightness of hope."
- Paulette Schatz, Project Manager, United Nations Development Programme, Afghanistan

N.B. This itinerary is available all year long. FAF's 7th Annual Youth Assembly at the United Nations is 4 - 6 August 2010, UN Headquarters, NYC. To learn more about the U.C. Peace Arts Festival and the annual Youth Assembly at the UN, please click below.

FAF has prepared successful, university level courses for your review. These courses offer matriculated and continuing students the opportunity to earn course credits while having the time of their lives in beautiful cities around the globe! These courses can be tailored to your needs and destinations as well as to any academic discipline.

Here are a few offerings to consider in 2010-11:

· Nuts and Bolts: Examining the administration and management of cultural nonprofit organizations. Held at your university or on site at influential NGOs in New York and elsewhere.

· Cultural Leadership in the Age of Private Citizen Diplomacy: A Positive Role for Non-State Actors.

· Central European Cultural Immersion Course in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary: our most impressive success to date. NOTE: This inviting three-week course can be offered by a variety of departments with confidence: International Relations, Liberal Arts, Continuing Education among them.

Take a moment and scan Professor Devon MacNamara's email, below. It captures the highlights of this intensive course which FAF developed for her students at West Virginia Wesleyan College last Spring:

"RE: WVWC Central European experience -- brava, bravo!

Great trip, wonderful guide, Michala couldn't be more helpful, accommodations excellent, the program unfolding harmoniously, and the kids very happy and amazed.

Good flights, although a REAL sprint in Paris to change planes. Thank you for all the work you have done on this experience, Yin-Chu.

What a wonderful time for our students, and for us, in east central Europe his May! Thank you for all your preparations, each of which resulted in harmonious connections, well planned excursions, enlightening programs, real fun, fine food, excellent cultural exchanges, some happy surprises, like meeting with young gymnasium students in Prague,

There were valuable challenges too, like going to see the play in Budapest which was extraordinarily intense. The writer/actor H. Gabor was incredible and his young student, Zoltan Tar, talented and expressive. It was not a theatre event our students get to see every day so it was right on target for what we hoped for them and provided an opportunity for our students to talk with the actors, as well as students learning English in the audience. The concert in Prague in the Klementinum, the truly spectacular dancing at The Magic Lantern, classical ballet at The National Theatre in Bratislava, all were genuinely thrilling, and the historical/political talk with the indefatigable Dagmar was excellent -- on that "Botel!"

The writers that Dagmar and Peter managed to find for us were exceptional choices, being of a generation that knew the war and were blessed with long memories, and able to share intense accounts, modestly given, of what they had lived through with a depth of dignity today's young people, especially Americans who have not suffered, don't always encounter. Attila Melegh was perfect - in fact, the students couldn't get enough of him, and went trooping off to find his book after the lecture. He was gracious and energetic and funny and they were all very inspired to see the world with more informed eyes as a result of our time with him. We hadn't had a predominantly economic explanation of twentieth- century events up to that point so it was valuable. He was au courant about contemporary political trends and how to spot evidence in conversation and on posters around the city.

Sarolta couldn't have been more helpful, informative, motherly, practical, and caring, and we all got very fond of her. She has depths and depths and a deep love of her country, and Bill and I imagined for next time maybe a kind of panel with her and Attila on it presenting their different takes on Central European society twenty years after the fall of we-all- know-what. The final dinner at the Hotel Corvin, and the folk dancers afterward, was happy and charming and very stirring really - the singing! Oh my. And the dancers, as Sarolta explained, had regular jobs too, which made their presentation more brilliant and heartfelt. Again, for next time, as in Ireland, more dancing for all of us! It was a fitting finale as well as an invitation to return for more as soon as possible.

And that's really our only true complaint, too little time, and how and when can we return?

And the music! Oh my! From Dvorak and Smetana (of course) to Ligeti (an hommage, so he was in the audience) and of course much baroque brass, and all the gorgeous pianos in Vienna - truly magnificent, everywhere we went, from the streets to the churches to the concert halls. Brilliant.

Sorry this is so long. Many thanks once again. If I've left anything out you or your contacts would particularly like feedback on please let me know.

Can't we stay another month?

Cheers,
Devon"

Would you like to review our University Course in Central Europe for an upcoming Summer, Winter, or Spring break trip? Have an idea for another course and need help with the itinerary and planning? Give us a call or send an email and we will be happy to forward the Central European course plan to you -- or work on a customized, credit-bearing or noncredit course offering with your academic needs in mind!