In honor of National Volunteer Week, we would like to extend a sincere THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who selflessly dedicate their time and energy to enriching our public diplomacy initiatives (CB, FLEX and YES programs). 2007-2008 has been an extremely rewarding and fun-filled year. The impact volunteers make on our participants is remarkable, and we appreciate all that you contribute in your efforts to make their respective stays positive and memorable.
Students have participated in a thought provoking array of cluster activities and student leadership opportunities during this past year, ranging from excursions to our nation’s capitol to trips to local government offices and community centers to outreach efforts associated with local environmental organizations; thank you to all those who took the time to organize, implement and lead these adventures!
Through the unwavering commitment of our volunteers, the uniqueness of these programs persists in being progressively reinforced, and our commitment to providing exciting opportunities for intercultural exchange continues to flourish.
We’re looking forward to the 2008-2009 cycle!!
This article was originally posted at The Oshkosh Northwestern
Contributed by Mary Ann Offer
The Oshkosh Northwestern, WI
The public is invited to an International Coffee House, on Friday, April 25, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., at the UW Oshkosh Women’s Center. The Women’s Center is on Irving Street, near the corner of Elmwood and Irving Streets. The Oshkosh AFS Chapter is hosting the coffee house to honor Youth and Exchange Study (YES) Program visitor, Armieyah “Mae” Ayob, a 2004-2005 Philippine exchange student to Milwaukee who was selected by AFS in the Philippines to represent them at a recent YES Program conference in Washington, D.C. Currently hosted YES students will be helping to host the coffee house. Coffee, non-alcoholic beverages, and international desserts will be served. There is no admission fee or charge for refreshments.
In 1947 a group of World War I and II American volunteer ambulance drivers, the American Field Service (AFS), started an intercultural exchange program. They wanted to provide a way for people from different countries and cultures to learn to understand each other, in hopes of finding a way to world peace. The first AFS exchange students were German teenagers who came to the US, their country’s recent adversary, just a few years after the end of World War II. In the sixty years since then, hundreds of thousands of teenagers from around the world have lived as members of families in different countries as AFS exchange students. The Oshkosh AFS chapter has hosted 107 AFS students since the first German student, Gabriela Borbein, came to Oshkosh High School in 1950, and 56 Oshkosh students have lived with families in 27 different countries as AFS exchange students.
After the events of September 11, 2001, it became clear to people concerned about world peace that Americans and Muslims from other parts of the world were suffering from a lack of understanding of each others’ cultures. In collaboration with other exchange partners and with funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Educational and Cultural Affairs Bureau, AFS entered into an agreement to provide a full-scholarship exchange program to students from countries with significant Muslim populations. This is known as the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program. Thirty countries participate; AFS hosts YES students from nine of them: Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Ghana, and the Philippines, with Kenya soon to follow.
photo: Oshkosh hosted students meet with Senator Herb Kohl
copyright Gannett Company
Great opportunity for YES 07-08 hosted students!
The Goldman Sachs Foundation and Asia Society award high school students who demonstrate an in-depth understanding of key issues in international affairs and the global economy.
The 2008 competition asks students to create an in-depth written essay or multimedia feature examining a social or economic issue that has relevance to them in a global context. Up to five winners will be selected to receive up to $10,000 each as well as an all-expenses paid trip to New York City in November 2008 to receive their prize.
Visit the Asia Society web site for contest questions, eligibility rules, guidelines and helpful hints, and submission instructions. The deadline for applications for the Youth Prizes is Thursday, June 12, 2008.
Filipino student Juliene Casio PAX 07-08, hosted in Iowa, put on her walking shoes to help make a difference for people living with diabetes. Juliene participated as a team member in a Juvenile Diabetes Walk on February 23. The walk was organized to raise awareness and funds for Juvenile diabetes.
Juliene walked with the local pastor’s wife, Melissa Fogle. They were counting the laps together and did over one hour of fast walking! Juliene was really excited to do something good for the community and to contribute for a great cause.
AFS Antarabudaya Malaysia is turning 50 years old this year!
Write an Article of Your Life Changing Experience With AFS!
AFS Malaysia became part of the AFS international network in 1958. Today it is known as Antarabudaya Malaysia—Malaysia Intercultural Exchange programs (ABM). AFS Antarabudaya Malaysia has 14 chapters across the country, each represents a state. Local volunteers work hard year-round to provide you with the most satisfying and unique intercultural experience possible. Over the years, AFS Antarabudaya Malaysia has welcomed AFSers from as many as 15 countries all over the world.
In conjunction with its 50 years Anniversary Campaign, AFS Antarabudaya Malaysia will be publishing a souvenir book entitled GLOBAL WARMTH: Celebrating 50 Years of Diversity as a symbolic celebration of our 50 years in promoting peace and mutual understanding between people and nations through intercultural exchange programs around the globe. The book will feature 50 stories of the the impact being exchange students or host families has had in their personal lives.
We would like to invite you to be part of this project by writing to us about your experience abroad in Malaysia, or as a Malaysian abroad, as well as being a host family for Malaysian students.
Write to us! Share your unique intercultural exchange experience with us! Everyone will have a different story to tell from their own part of the world, each with its own culture, people and diversity.
Write a story less than 600 words and tell us more about your experience of being an exchange student in/from Malaysia or a host family over the years.
We encourage you to send in as many photos capturing the most cherished and memorable events during your program.
The completed article, together with the photos, should be sent directly via email to afs.globalwarmth@gmail.com or by mail to the AFS Antarabudaya Malaysia National Office at the following address :
AFS Antarabudaya Malaysia
40 A Jalan SS22/21
Damansara Jaya
47400 Petaling Jaya
Selangor, Malaysia
For more information about this book or your articles, please email Jessica Kan (YES alumna ‘05) at jessica.kan@afs.org.my
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