At this week's meeting, the Salem Rotary Club welcomed Amelia Burke from Friends Forever International (FFI) for an inspiring presentation. FFI is a remarkable organization that runs rigorous leadership programs for individuals and groups both in the United States and abroad. Their work spans a wide range of participants—including middle and high school students, senior citizens, professional and civic leadership groups, faith-based organizations, and universities.
Amelia Burke of Friends Forever International (FFI) delivered a powerful presentation about the organization’s transformative leadership programs—and she wasn’t alone. Joining her was a past participant who took part in the 2022 immersion program in Ireland and now travels the world working with FFI, embodying the program’s mission to help youth become the best versions of themselves so they can help their communities do the same.
Founded in the United States in response to the political and religious turmoil in Northern Ireland, FFI has grown into a global initiative with campuses in New Hampshire, Northern Ireland, and Belize. At its core, the organization emphasizes six key values: resilience, empathy, communication, impact, playfulness, and effort. Every program activity is intentionally designed to reflect at least one of these values.
FFI’s main offering is its Immersion Program, a comprehensive, cross-cultural experience that includes team building, skill development, and community engagement. Participants, typically ages 14–18, work together across cultures and backgrounds, culminating in a participant-designed social action project. The program is completely free for participants, thanks to generous supporters and community partners.
Core components of FFI programs include mindfulness, self-reflection, service-based learning, storytelling and communication, art and creativity, and goal-setting with evaluation. The New Hampshire campus also offers credit-bearing courses in leadership, social studies, creativity and arts, science, healthy living, and more—including special education and advanced-level programs.
Many alumni return for further training to become counselors. Recent alumni training sessions were held in New Orleans, LA, and Boom Creek, Belize, helping to build the next generation of global leaders.
Rotary has played a vital role in FFI’s history, with strong partnerships and support from Clubs across the country. Salem Rotarians were inspired to see firsthand how FFI is making a lasting impact—one young leader at a time.
Each of FFI’s programs focuses on team building, leadership development, cultural appreciation, healthy living, and creativity through the arts. The organization has deep roots in Rotary, with Rotarian involvement embedded in its founding and continued engagement to this day. Over the past year alone, Friends Forever International has partnered with nearly 50 Rotary Clubs across five states.
We were proud to hear updates from Amelia and learn more about how FFI continues to empower the next generation of leaders through its mission-driven work.
At this week's meeting, we also welcomed our newest Rotary Club member, Mary Ellen Leahy. Congratulations!
Installation Dinner
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