AFS – is a non-governmental-organisation (NGO) and it’s a non-profit-organisation (NPO). AFS’s highest goal is it to accomplish world peace. This is it’s statement of purpose:
AFS is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world. AFS enables people to act as responsible global citizens working for peace and understanding in a diverse world. It acknowledges that peace is a dynamic concept threatened by injustice, inequity and intolerance. AFS seeks to affirm faith in the dignity and worth of every human being and of all nations and cultures. It encourages respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction as to race, sex, language, religion or social status.
AFS activities are based on our core values of dignity, respect for differences, harmony, sensitivity and tolerance.
also in german – Das AFS Leitbild: AFS ist eine international tätige, unabhängige und gemeinnützige Freiwilligenorganisation. AFS Interkulturelle Bildungsprogramme unterstützen Menschen in der Entwicklung ihres Verständnisses, ihres Wissens und jener Fähigkeiten, die erforderlich sind, um zu einer gerechteren und friedvolleren Welt beizutragen. AFS will Menschen befähigen, sich verantwortungsbewusst für den Frieden, für ein besseres Verständnis der Völker untereinander sowie für einen besseren Umgang mit einer sich verändernden Welt einzusetzen. AFS ist überzeugt, dass die Entwicklung des Friedens ein dynamischer Prozess ist, der durch Ungerechtigkeit, Ungleichheit und Intoleranz gefährdet wird. AFS setzt sich ein für die Würde des Menschen, für den Wert jedes einzelnen Menschenlebens, für alle Völker und Kulturen. AFS fördert die Achtung der Menschen- und Grundrechte ohne Diskriminierung von ethnischer Zugehörigkeit, Geschlecht, Sprache, Religion oder gesellschaftlicher Stellung.AFS gestaltet seine Programme basierend auf seinen Grundwerten: Würde, Achtung der Vielfalt, Harmonie, Einfühlungsvermögen und Toleranz.
Following countries are participating in AFS Intercultural Programm:
Egypt, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Germany, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Ghana, Greece, Greenland, United Kingdom , Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay , Peru, Poland, Portugal, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Tunisia, Hungary, USA, Venezuela, Cyprus – there are more then 100.000 volontiers world wide and each year about 13.000 young kids are sent abroad and hosted in another countrie – since 1919 when AFS started about 370.000 people have stayed abroad and changed the world a little bit!
I participated in an AFS semester programm and went to Tucson, Arizona, USA from Jan. to July 2008. I did open my mind, I see things diffrently now, I understand different cultures better now and I realized how much we can learn of each other!
check out more information on AFS here:
http://www.afs.org/ (english) – http://www.afs.at/ (german)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AFS_Intercultural_Programs (english) – http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Field_Service (german)
http://www.flog.in/stories/4698839/ (blog entrence about afs in german)
Another thing I am about to start is
CouchSurfing. It’s an online platform you can register for (for free). And people will just let you stay with them (on their couch) for several days/weeks (whatever you want) and you let people stay on your couch (if you want to!)
It’s decleration of intention says:
“CouchSurfing seeks to internationally network people and places, create educational exchanges, raise collective consciousness, spread tolerance, and facilitate cultural understanding.”
As a community we strive to do our individual and collective parts to make the world a better place, and we believe that the surfing of couches is a means to accomplish this goal. CouchSurfing isn’t about the furniture- it’s not just about finding free accommodations around the world- it’s about participating in creating a better world. We strive to make a better world by opening our homes, our hearts, and our lives. We open our minds and welcome the knowledge that cultural exchange makes available. We create deep and meaningful connections that cross oceans, continents and cultures. CouchSurfing wants to change not only the way we travel, but how we relate to the world!”
There might be people who say: That’s too dangerous, that’s too doubtfull or it’s just not convinient enough. For these people I have some numbers here: Right now there are 1,195,950 CouchSurfers, 1,188,586 surfs or host experiences were made, 1,376,801 friendships were created and last but not least - there were 2,206,925 Positive Experiences made! Couchsurfing is represented in 232 countries and 60,373 cities in the world. I think thats amazing! I probably will participate the first time this summer to stay in Paris for a couple of days! Im very excited – and positive to just go another step torwds a better, more peace- and respectfull world!
I believe in Change! Do you?
Also published on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=101083541274)