When Richard Battersby and 13 other members of the Friendship Force Pikes Peak Region Club traveled to Taketa, Japan, in 2023, they were welcomed not as tourists, but as friends.

Two years later, the exchange came full circle when nine members of the Friendship Force Oita club visited Colorado Springs, where local hosts opened their homes, shared meals and introduced them to some local attractions, including Garden of the Gods and the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

Friendship Force is a nonprofit, nonpolitical and nonreligious organization that connects people through cultural homestays. Its motto, “A World of Friends is a World of Peace,” reflects its mission to build understanding through personal relationships.

That mission has stayed with Susan Tindell, 74, who joined Friendship Force with her husband, Steve, nearly 50 years ago. Their first exchange, in 1979 in Hanover, Germany, introduced them to a young German couple who became lifelong friends.

“They became our Friendship Force family and went on to visit us in Montana, Texas and Colorado,” Tindell said. “We returned to Hanover with our family to visit them on several occasions.”

Last October, the Tindells met up with them again in Germany, returning to the same home where they had stayed 47 years earlier.

“Through our journeys and hosting experiences, we have come to understand that people all over the world want the same basic things: to love and be loved, to feel safe, to provide for their families and to be respected,” Tindell said. “When we open our homes and share a meal, we can discover our shared humanity.”

 Japanese visitors with Friendship Force's Oita Club explore the Garden of the Gods. 

CONNECTING CULTURES

Founded in 1977 by Wayne Smith and introduced at the White House by President Jimmy Carter, Friendship Force has grown to about 350 clubs in more than 60 countries. The Pikes Peak Region club began in 1987 as a satellite of the Denver club. In 1992, it became its own club, Friendship Force of Southern Colorado. In 2005, the name was changed to Friendship Force of the Pikes Peak Region to better reflect the area its members serve.

The club meets regularly to plan exchanges, host visitors and share travel stories.

Battersby, 83, joined Friendship Force in 2010 with his wife, Barbara. Their first home-hosting experience was with a couple from Tokyo, and the two couples have remained close.

“We found that we have more similarities than differences,” Battersby said. “Even though we speak a different language, we are still able to communicate. Spending time together over a meal is how you really get to know people.”

Speaking the local language is not required. Technology helps bridge communication gaps, and a volunteer translator accompanies each trip abroad. During the recent exchange, Japanese guests used Google Translate, hand gestures and plenty of laughter to connect with their hosts. 

OPEN DOORS ACROSS THE WORLD

Prospective members go through a vetting and screening process. Although the club tends to attract people over 50, all ages may join. 

Hosts typically provide breakfast and evenings at home, then help plan daytime activities based on the group’s interests. Members also can participate as dinner hosts or help with activities if they are not able to host overnight guests.

In a divided world, Friendship Force offers a hopeful reminder that relationships can cross borders. Whether hosting or traveling, members turn global friendships into lasting connections.