The International Day of Friendship is celebrated on the 30 July with the idea that “friendship between people, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities” (United Nations, 2011). The world grapples with issues such as poverty, inequality, violence and human rights abuses, among others, which has weakened development, social harmony among many countries, societies, communities and people. Through friendship, a space can be created where bonds of social connectedness, trust and unity can contribute to the important shifts that are needed to address the above-mentioned issues.

The nature of our friendships changes as we progress through life. An underlying feature of friendships is the opportunity that it provides for social and community connectedness, and to develop social networks. This feature assists in facilitating a sense of belonging, which stems from trusting relationships and bonds that people experience with friends, families and their community. The opposite of social connectedness is a sense of isolation. According to Synergos (2014), an organisation that focuses on bridging leadership, isolation is an unseen element of poverty where one lacks meaningful social connections. Through friendships, community-level support can be fostered and informal opportunities for sharing and engagement can be created.

In order to foster friendships and social connectedness, opportunities for platforms that promote dialogue should be considered. It is through dialogue that we can begin to understand the complexities of people’s experiences with other people, communities and societies. Creating a space for trusting relationships to be built and fostered can contribute to improved levels of social connectedness. Human rights principles such as equality, participation and human dignity should be promoted as they contribute to an inclusive, just society in which people feel they belong. Lastly, tolerance for others has to be encouraged – from a young age, as it is through tolerance that we show respect and kindness for others. All these are important components in creating a foundation for meaningful social connections in our world.

In celebrating the International Day of Friendship, let us reflect on how we are contributing to a community and society in which we are building bridges of social connection, unity and trust.