How to Host A Virtual Global Event with Friends Around the World
Staying socially isolated doesn’t mean cancelling all social activity. There are lots of ways for you to connect with other Friendship Force members online, and in these bizarre times, it’s more important than ever to set up those channels sooner rather than later.
If you’ve got a webcam and an internet connection, a whole world of friendship is open to you. You can host a quiz, dinner parties, happy hours, a game night, show off your talents or your pets, host a karaoke party and so much more. Here’s some technical advice for ways to get set up, as well as how to share your screen with your event guests. We’ve come up with a list of ideas you could try, but we want to hear your own ideas too. And after your event please come back and let us know how you get on, maybe with your photos and screenshots.
Don’t be surprised if there are some small technical difficulties — you might have to adjust a setting or two on your computer before things start flowing smoothly. Try to have a sense of humor about the whole thing. You don’t need to be a video-conferencing pro. It’s likely going to take a little trial and error to get set up the first time. And if you run into any problems, an FFI staff member is just an email or phonecall away.
Once you’re ready to go, here are some of our ideas to get your creative juices flowing:
- Beginner’s ballet or other dance class (here is an example from the UK)
- Bingo (download these free printable cards)
- Book club (online how-to)
- Club anniversary party (invite your very first hosts/ambassadors)
- Comedy club (come ready with your favourite jokes to share)
- Cooking demos (showcase your best dishes from your kitchen)
- Country presentation (Brazil was showcased recently)
- Creativity group (teach others painting, crafting, calligraphy etc.)
- Debate team (visit this guide to hosting and suggested topics)
- English conversation (for native English-speaking leaders and others wanting to practice)
- Friendship Force Jeopardy (this popular US quiz show can be played online)
- Garden virtual tours
- Happy hour or coffee hour (the perfect spot for general chit-chat with friends)
- Journey presentation (show what your club has to offer or tell about a Journey you enjoyed)
- Karaoke party (you’ll need the Watch2Gether app as well for this one and here are some song lists)
- Language conversation (for native speakers to lead and others wanting to practice)
- Murder mystery / whodunnit (here are free scenarios and scripts for all your actors)
- Performance (do you dance, sing, do magic, or have another talent to share?)
- Pets of Friendship (show off your pets and share funny stories. Can they do tricks?)
- Philosophy club (enjoy discussions about knowledge, truth, consciousness, science, logic etc.)
- Script reading (for all you wannabe actors, some example scripts from the BBC)
- Storytellers (Sign up for 5-minute slots and share your best stories – FF-related or otherwise)
- Toastmasters (here are some tips)
- Travel souvenir sharing (what’s the story behind your favourite Journey souvenir?)
- Trivia/quiz (simply read your questions aloud to the group or make it hi-tech)
- Virtual art show (share and talk about your favourite piece of art, gallery-style)
- Virtual choir (this will require one tech-savvy member or someone willing to learn audio software)
- Wine and cheese (all group members enjoy and talk about their region’s wines and cheeses)
- Yoga / exercise class (get fit together, with friends from around the world)
Please complete this form if you would like to add an idea to the list, or if you would like us to set up a Zoom call for your club members, at least one week from today.
We look forward to hearing from you and to helping you make connections with Friendship Force friends around the world!