The year has seen exciting developments for FAN. In 2007 we had 8 FAN Groups in Cardiff and we had enquiries about opening FAN Groups in other parts of the UK. We hope that the first FAN Group outside Cardiff will start in Norwich early in 2008!
The FAN Groups are now a registered Charity. There is more administrative work but friends who come to FAN show us that it is worth our efforts. If anyone out there would like to do more to help FAN - please let Gill, our Secretary know. We want to start a list of people who will give free extra help to others with English. Perhaps you could email someone and help them with English? Some FAN friends go early to FAN meetings to help others with English.
FAN attenders come from all over the UK and the local community. Local people love meeting newcomers from different parts of the UK and from other countries in the world. Each year at a lunch we've called out the names of countries of different FAN attenders. Last year 230 of us met at the Temple of Peace and we had 63 different countries!
We have had good times together in FAN. We enjoy hearing about the traditions in other countries. Because we really listen to each other without interrupting and speak only when it's our turn, we know that all the important things in life are the same for each of us. We all want to feel safe, need a roof over our head and food to eat. We all want education and if we have children we want them to be healthy and happy. We all need friends and to know that someone cares about us.
In FAN we are building a new and fascinating community and some of us dream this great family can stretch across the world to every country. Well, no harm in dreaming! A new FAN Group seems to open every few months. Check out the website if you use a computer - we are www.thefangroups.org and you can now find flag and information of countries of your FAN friends on the website or email us.
Do tell people you know about us! We welcome anyone friendly and willing to listen to others. We love having all age ranges - though most groups are not able to have children. Occasionally a quiet child might sit with Mum or Dad who is responsible for that child at all times. We welcome younger people, middle age and elderly - all you need to come to FAN is a kind heart and a warm smile.
I would like to tell you two stories of FAN attenders. One about an African friend who had come with two small children from a desperate situation to the UK. She came every week to FAN but knew no English and we knew no-one who spoke her language. Still our friend came to every meeting. She smiled and nodded and passed when it was her turn to speak. After about 6 months the meeting was going to pass as usual, when it was her turn but our African friend put up her hand and nodded. In slow careful English she said 'You are my family now... You are my friends'. These were the first full sentences we heard her say and I think everyone from that moment was convinced of the need for FAN Groups.
One FAN attender has told us such funny stories of his life on our local buses as a driver. Over the months we have come to know him and how interesting he is! He had trained as an architect in Russia and lived many years in the Middle East. He's given us a fascinating view of life in Yemen - particularly family holidays and we all had fun when it was our turn talking about our family holidays. We have learned many people are working in our city - and we had no idea how special they are! FAN helps us to know each other.
A FAN attender after talking briefly about his week told us about a story he'd read about a scientist who was trying to do important work to save the world. The problem was his 6 year old son was bothering him all the time. The scientist picked up a magazine with a map of the world. He cut the countries up into pieces as his son watched. He gave the pieces to the child saying 'Take these and see if you can put the world map together again.' The child went away and the scientist smiled, thinking he would have an hour of peace and quiet.
To his surprise, his son came back quite quickly and showed him the world map fitted together. 'How did you mend the world so quickly?' he asked his son.
The little boy smiled and said. 'When you were cutting up the world I saw there was a man on the other side. I thought if I fixed the man when I turned over the world would be mended.'
Is there wisdom for us in this story? Can we use FAN to fix ourselves and make us more understanding of others - to make a better world?
Our FAN Chairperson, Barrie, is fond of saying:- 'Happiness is wanting what you have - not having what you want.'