Friends Forever Expanded Student Leadership Programs

Durham high schoolers can now earn academic credit through an intensive leadership program.

Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Secondary Education

Screen-print poster illustration of a rustic wooden farmhouse table with a brass lantern and garden herbs, evoking educational youth leadership programs. — Friends Forever International expanded its leadership training to Durham high school students, allowing them to earn academic credit through community-focused residential coursework. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should high school students receive academic credit for participating in independent leadership or community programs?

Founded in 1986, the Durham-based nonprofit Friends Forever International expanded its leadership training to local high school students in 2022. This initiative allows participants to earn up to 2.5 school credits through the state's Learn Everywhere program.

Why it matters

The partnership provides a pathway for students to develop empathy and independence while fulfilling educational requirements. By integrating community-focused leadership training into the standard curriculum, the program aims to foster life skills alongside traditional academic progress.

The program costs $5,000 per student, though participation is covered by donor scholarships. Students can earn up to 2.5 school credits per course, choosing from 167 approved options.

The players

Friends Forever International

A Durham-based nonprofit established in 1986 that operates youth leadership campuses in New Hampshire and Northern Ireland.

Learn Everywhere

A New Hampshire state initiative that enables students to earn high school course credits through community-based educational programs.

The details

Students complete intensive leadership coursework during school breaks by residing at the organization's farmhouse. Participants are responsible for daily life logistics, including managing their own laundry and cooking plant-based meals while adhering to a schedule that runs from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

1986: Friends Forever began hosting youth from Northern Ireland.
2022: The nonprofit partnered with the Learn Everywhere state initiative.
2023: The organization offered its first course for school credit.

The Home Front

This program aligns with the growing trend of competency-based learning supported by New Hampshire's Learn Everywhere initiative. It marks a shift in how families approach secondary education by integrating residential leadership development into official student transcripts.

Families interested in this program should contact the nonprofit to discuss scholarship availability and enrollment timelines. Before committing, confirm with your student's school guidance counselor that the course credits align with their current high school graduation requirements.

The takeaway

The program demonstrates how extracurricular activities can now contribute directly to a student's high school diploma. Parents can track these credits by requesting regular progress updates from the organization and verifying credit transferability with the local school district.