This year, on the 30th of July, we celebrate International Day of Friendship!

The International Day of Friendship, established by the United Nations in 2011, promotes peace and unity by encouraging bonds of friendship across cultures, communities, and nations. Rooted in the idea that friendship fosters solidarity and trust, the initiative emphasizes youth involvement and cultural understanding to help address global challenges and build a more harmonious world.

In celebration of this beautiful day, we are delighted to promote our global tree-planting community, and their experience of friendship and community. Here is what they’ve had to say over the last five years:

Hans Timpner from Aruba
“During my visit to India, Mrs. Mrinalini Nigde from Global Tree Initiative India arranged a visit to the Sacred Grove Nursery of Mr. and Mrs. Raghunath Dole, and we were enchanted by this noble project. We decided there and then to start a friendship between Sacred Grove and the Global Tree Initiative. As a sign of this friendship, we all planted this tree. May this be a fruitful and long relationship that will benefit way beyond the borders.” – October 2022

Hans Timpner with Mrinalini Nigde, Dharmendra Kar, and Raghunath Dhole

Hans also shares,
“During my visit to Nepal, I met Rajesh. We decided to plant a tree together in order to start a good friendship, which will hopefully bear fruit one day, and help others.” – November 2022

Hans and Rajesh

Matheus Pangracio from Brazil
“What I most enjoyed about this year, was planting and dedicating trees for people who were sick; to feel that planting trees brings us hope for a better, healthier future. Every time I look at these trees, I feel happy. I remember having planted them with friends and dedicating them to those who were sick. I love planting trees within my community because it makes me feel connected with like-minded people who want to make the world a better place, starting with themselves. I feel united with brothers and sisters around the world, working together towards a more conscious and harmonious world!” – December 2022

Matheus with friends, after a tree-planting activity, in Brazil.

Emma Defresne from France
“It was the first time I had the opportunity to speak to Ösel. I could tell him how it was precious to be a little piece of GTI’s puzzle and how it was a pleasure to have received Anrich and Pia in Provence. My ‘new’ heart (after the surgery) was full of happiness, and I could feel Ösel’s kindness during this hard time. Thank you, Ösel, and thank you to all the people involved with GTI. May this project help humanity grow towards respect and friendship.” – August 2023

Emma and Ösel

Javier Torres from Puerto Rico
“Last Friday I returned from Florida, USA, where I met up with Jacie, Kalden, and Hans. We had a great time! Hans and I spent a lot of time in the car traveling from Miami to Cape Coral, from Cape Coral to Boca Raton, and then back. Back in Puerto Rico, I missed his kindness, his humility, and his good sense of humor. I thought that a good way to value our friendship was to dedicate this planting to him. – August 2024

Hans Timpner and Javier Torres

Bengu Fetzer from New Zealand
“I planted this one special tree for all the friendships I have. Thank you to my good friend Carlos Fabrizio, for getting his hands in the dirt. This is for all the good friends who support all my crazy wishes and for being there!” – October 2021

Bengu and her friend, Carlos

Jussa Kudherezera from Zimbabwe
“These trees are dedicated to Francisca Gusmão and the Ampe’s (Natacha, Sophie, Emmanuel, and Véronique), to Anrich and Pia, and all friendships flourishing out of a common sense of universal care and responsibility.” – March 2023

Jussa with the tree he planted

Imam Maiyaki from Nigeria
“For me, the Global Tree Initiative is a global organization that has quickly developed into a big community, where we all have a feeling and sense of belonging. The Global Tree Initiative is blessed with dedicated, supportive, and easily accessible staff and members!” – December 2022

Imam with his tree-planting friends

Pia Carapaz from Germany
“I loved that I could meet people from the GTI’s global community, and become friends with them. It feels like I am part of a global community, and that we are connected by the love of trees and nature, and caring for each other and nature.” – August 2022

Pia and Sophie

Mrinalini Nigde from India
“I thank our founder, Tenzin Ösel Hita, for creating this space called Global Tree Initiative, where warm-hearted communities are planting trees. Since I joined Global Tree Initiative, I made friends from all over the world through this beautiful space.” – December 2022

Mrinalini with friends

Marie Henry from France
“Anne has been one of my yoga students, and we became good friends. When she decided to plant trees on a field that she bought, she asked for the help of a few friends, and she dedicated this huge plantation to the Global Tree Initiative.” – February 2024

Marie’s friends planting trees together

Tenzin Ösel Hita from Spain (Global Tree Initiative Founder)
Our Founder, Tenzin Ösel, says, “However, real psychologists are your friends. The real psychologists are the people who care for you, the people who know you, the people who listen to you. They are real psychologists.”

Tenzin Ösel and friends in the USA.

These are a few reflections from our global community. Are you inspired, and do you have a story of how you experienced friendship and community through the Global Tree Initiative? Please, tell us about it! You can share your story on our Facebook Community Forum, or you can fill out this Report Form on our website, and tell us about a tree (or trees) you planted and dedicated to a friend!