Finnish- South African Friendship Society

The Society was established in 1992 to promote the mutual cooperation of the two countries in different sectors such as trade, education, culture, the arts, nature and tourism. The society 
is a non-political organization with no political affiliations. We leave it to the professional politicians to deal with political issues. We deal directly with people.

The society was at its most active with over 200 members in the turn of the century, having promoted South Africa by fairs, exhibitions, visits to schools and clubs and published a newsletter, the AMANZI, held meetings and yearly participated in the MATKA-travel fair in Helsinki and also participated in the International Cultural Centre Caisa's fairs.



In South Africa the Society made our exotic country known eg. by exhibitions in libraries and have also visited various societies and clubs to tell about Finland. We also co-operate with the local Finnish Society (Suomalainen Seura) and our long- time former chairman, Mr Hannes Ignatius is actively in contact with Finns living in South Africa.

Since the new millenium however new sources of information such as the Internet provided people with more information of South Africa we could possibly provide, while travel became more common South Africa was not as unknown as before.

Time passed our books, diashows and VHS tapes. As we are a small purely volunteer organization with no real budget and no staff the ability to organize bigger projects and as our membership was elderly the Society's activities have virtually ceased and we're currently more or less on hold waiting for a new start. 

There has been some interest in the growing expat South African crowd in Finland and in the younger Finnish generation, though the question is if we find enough volunteers to get things running as it has been proven only a few people can hardly organize much if anything.  

You are welcome to contact us for further information - either by email info2 at fi-za dot org or in Finland calling the acting chairman 

Henry Majander at 040-7387848.