By Alesha Capone
Jake, Christian and Sebastian have a ball when they spend time together.
The youngsters, who are all aged nine, have been friends since starting Grade Prep together.
The boys now go to three different schools, but remain great mates, and also play together at the Corpus Christi Basketball Club in Werribee.
The importance of friendships, such as the one shared by Jake, Christian and Sebastian, will be celebrated later this month, on July 30, which is known as The International Day of Friendship.
The International Day of Friendship – which is also known as World Friendship Day – was proclaimed in 2011 by the United Nations General Assembly, based on the idea that friendship between people, countries and different cultures can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.
The resolution places particular emphasis on involving young people in community activities
To mark the International Day of Friendship, the United Nations encourages governments, international organisations and community groups to hold events, activities and initiatives to promote solidarity, mutual understanding and reconciliation.
The first World Friendship Day was proposed for in1958 by the World Friendship Crusade, an international civil organisation that campaigns to foster a culture of peace through friendship.
See un.org/en/events/friendshipday/ for details.