“A good event / programme is…one which attracts IS, which is such that every new visitor will want to come again (perhaps to a different event, but which they expect to be as good), which includes participation and interaction, which develops an atmosphere of informal mixing, and natural conversations, which allows time for chatting and mixing”
Bartow Wylie, Friends International

Appropriate dress – Girls should wear loose clothes that completely cover their shoulders and midriffs, strappy clothes or tight tops are offensive to people from many different cultures and reinforce their ideas of western immorality. If wearing shorts, make sure they are long ones and cover your knees.

Year plan Download the year plan so you can begin to prepare a program for your international outreach.

Term plan Include a whole variety of events (see suggestions below) here are a couple of term programmes from two International café. Download example 1 or example 2.

Weekly plan

1. Arrive 6pm to pray and have some training
2. 7-7.30pm set up the café
3. 7.30-8.15 evening activity
4. 8.15 optional thought provoking drama
5. 8.20 optional bible studies/carry on with café
6. 9.30 café finish and pack up

Practicalities for running a cafe/ideas
Ongoing jobs / responsibilities for International café each week (to be delegated to team):

1. Milk, coffee, tea, biscuits (buy and bring)
2. Cups, urn or kettle (bringing, washing up)
3. Topping-up water throughout evening
4. Serving tea and coffee and checking everyone who wants one has a drink
5. Welcoming /introducing – and ensuring all IS are chatting to someone
6. Putting out / away chairs, flags
7. Theme / activity for evening
8. Map / globe / atlas / games etc – bringing and putting away at end
9. Email list – compile, send weekly updates / programme etc
10. Choosing a location/set up: Find a room on campus somewhere central and easy to find. Use a local house from a church family or use a church hall.

Practicalities for running a cafe/ideas
Ideas for events:

1. Food Events

   Cook your own pancakes, ice cream and toppings, English puddings;Hot potatoes; Fish and chips; International food party; Chocolate

2. Cultural Evenings

   Chinese New Year, American (4 th July) European etc. Easter and Christmas parties; Welcome to UK night; Goodbye to students leaving; International Film Night; British movies; Info on tourist destinations: London, oxford, Winchester (prior to café trips?) Jesus video (outside of café?) Local history / geography / architecture etc; Country dancing / barn dance

   Skittles; Pub quiz; Board games; Party games; Drama; British Customs; British sayings and explanations; British language and origin of words; UK/world

   (All ideally involve known students participating, bringing food etc, music, customs, traditional dancing etc)
3. Festivals and Celebrations

   25th January Burns Night
   14th February Valentine's Day
   1st March St. David's Day (Patron Saint of Wales)
   Shrove Tuesday - Pancake Day
   Second Monday in March Commonwealth Day
   Mothering Sunday (late March)
   1st April, April Fool's Day
   23rd April St. George's Day (Patron Saint of England)
   Queen's birthday / official birthday Third Sunday in June Fathers' Day
   5th November Guy Fawkes' Day
   11th November Remembrance Day (2 minutes silence at 11 a.m.)
   30th November St. Andrew's Day (Patron Saint of Scotland)

Publicity
Make sure you explain clearly where, when and what time you are meeting. Explain clearly any abbreviations that you use.