Friendship: The Power of Connection

Tammy Marino of Unbound reflects on friendship and the value of connection. 

International Friendship Day, July 30, is a special opportunity to pause and reflect on the profound role friendship plays in our lives. It’s a chance to celebrate the bonds that uplift us, challenge us and remind us of our shared humanity and God’s love for us.  

True friendship — grounded in trust, compassion and encouragement — is one of the most powerful forces for good in the world. It’s a gift we cherish and a legacy we hope to pass on to the next generation.  

At Unbound, we witness the beauty of friendship every day. It begins with a simple gesture — a letter, a photo, a kind word — and blossoms into a meaningful connection between sponsors and the children, elders and families they support. These long-distance friendships, spanning continents and cultures, are rooted in empathy and mutual respect. They remind us and our children that kindness knows no borders, and that love can travel far, even when we cannot. 

Faith in Action 

Sponsoring a child or elder living in poverty can be a beautiful way for families to teach children what it means to be a faithful friend. It gives them a chance to see the world through another’s eyes, to grow in understanding and to practice the values that help make friendship strong: listening, encouragement and shared hope. 

For Catholics, sponsorship is more than generosity — it’s a living expression of faith. It’s a way to walk alongside someone experiencing poverty, to affirm their dignity, and to stand in solidarity with them. It’s also a powerful opportunity to form our children in the values of compassion, justice and global awareness. Through sponsorship, they learn what it means to love their neighbor — not just in theory, but in practice. 

These relationships offer a unique window into another person’s life. Children who participate in sponsorship programs often develop a deeper understanding of the world and their place in it. They learn to listen with compassion, to encourage with sincerity and to hope with others. In a world that often emphasizes achievement and competition, these are the quiet virtues that help build a more compassionate and connected future. 

Maoly is a 9-year-old girl living in El Salvador who dreams of one day becoming a seamstress. She can attend school thanks to her sponsor’s support, and she is incredibly grateful to feel empowered to dream about her future.  

“I would like to meet them in real life,” Maoly said of her sponsors. “[They] taught me to keep moving forward, that people support me, and that I should never give up.” 

The Gift of Shared Growth 

Friendship through sponsorship is not one-sided. Sponsors, too, are transformed by the experience. They gain new perspectives, form lasting bonds, and often find themselves inspired by the resilience and joy of those they support. It’s a mutual journey of growth — one that enriches both hearts and minds. 

Recently, Phat, a sponsor from Vietnam, had the opportunity to take an Unbound Awareness Trip to the Philippines to meet one of his sponsored friends, a third-grader named Mark. Though they had only been corresponding for less than a year, meeting Mark and his family in person strengthened their bond. 

“I feel emotional,” Mark’s mother shared. “I can’t explain the feeling, but I am really happy that I and my child were able to have the chance to see him in person. I just wanted to say thank you to the sponsor of my child because he does not only help my child but our whole family as well. His sponsorship also boosted the confidence of my child to do well in school and reach for his dreams.” 

The emotion did not stop at Mark and his mother. Phat was excited and elated at the opportunity to meet his long-distance friends in person. 

“I see him very happy and he is looking into my eyes as we walk towards each other during the grand welcome ceremony,” Phat explained. “[Sponsoring] gives me an overwhelming happiness.” 

Families who sponsor together often find that it becomes a shared mission — a way to live out their values and deepen their relationships with one another. Children learn that being a good friend means showing up, staying committed and believing in someone else’s potential. These are lessons that extend far beyond the sponsorship relationship and into every corner of their lives. 

A Call to Friendship 

This Friendship Day, let’s ask ourselves: How can we help our children become not just good students or responsible citizens, but good friends in the most human sense of the word? How can we nurture in them the qualities that make friendship flourish? In the end, it’s not just about what we give, but about the relationships we build, the love we share and the world we create together. 

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Copyright 2025 Tammy Marino for Unbound
Images: copyright 2025 Unbound, all rights reserved.