Dear Friends: Recently we experienced and enjoyed an historical moment of AFS—the first AFS Youth Workshop and Symposium held during the AFS Centennial Celebrations in Paris. The 100 Years Young! event showcased passionate young thought leaders coming together to discuss and debate the challenges to global citizenship education. Their presentations and recommendations challenged AFS and world leaders to embrace the importance of educating global citizens to be responsible, citizen changemakers working for peace and understanding in a diverse world. Their energy and compelling ideas inspired AFS Argentina & Uruguay to convene an International AFS Youth Volunteer Forum in April 2015. Our mission is simple: The AFS Centennial Anniversary has been a remarkable opportunity to celebrate our 100-year history of volunteerism and build on the AFS legacy for an even brighter future. AFS believes that young volunteers are critical partners and stakeholders in AFS, as well as catalysts for positive change. We are proud that many of our AFS Volunteers, Board Members, and key Staff Members around the world are aged 30 and younger. Therefore we must involve our young AFSers in important decisions affecting the future of our organization. That’s why we’re inviting your organization and your young AFS Volunteers to take part of the first International AFS Youth Volunteer Forum that will take place April 16 — 18, 2015 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The forum will be held in collaboration with AFS International as part of the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of AFS Argentina and Uruguay. If you have any question please do not hesitate to contact me. Kind regards, Juan
THE GOALS The goals of the International AFS Youth Volunteer Forum are to: • Invite young volunteers to identify challenges and opportunities for AFS to play a more prominent role in developing citizen and global changemakers through AFS volunteer opportunities. • Explore new ways to better engage volunteers throughout the AFS Network. • Encourage all AFS Partner Organizations to take advantage of intercultural learning programs offered to AFS volunteers. • Provide recommendations to clearly define the role of AFS volunteers in the 21st Century. • Discover innovative ways to make the AFS Volunteer Journey more meaningful and rewarding. • Develop touch points to ensure AFS Volunteers stay motivated and committed. • Help AFS continue to be a world-class volunteer organization of choice, where young people can learn, grow and make a difference.
THE DATES AND LOCATION Arrivals: Wednesday April 15th. Departures: Sunday April 19th. Location: Buenos Aires
VOLUNTEER PROFILE We are looking for energetic changemakers, 30 years old or younger with at least two years of experience as an AFS Volunteer supporting AFS operations and working with hosting, sending and placement challenges. The working language of the Forum will be English. Costs As part of our celebrations, AFS Argentina & Uruguay will cover the following costs for your volunteers: Lodging • Four nights at Hotel Via Sui in Buenos Aires from Wednesday April 15th to Sunday April 19th. See location in Google maps . Hotel Via Sui Location in Google Maps http://www.viasuihotel.com.ar http://goo.gl/vuI4DQ
Food • Breakfast (From Thursday to Sunday). • Lunch from Thursday to Saturday. • Dinner (Thursday and Friday). • Gala Dinner Ticket for the AFS Centennial and 60th Anniversary Celebration Partner Organizations or Volunteers must pay for: • Transportation to and from Buenos Aires • Transfer from/to the Ezeiza Airport • Dinner on Wednesday night (free night)
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS PARTNER ORGANIZATION CAN SEND That will depend on the number of AFS Volunteers from the Network interested in participating in this event. Our goal is to have representatives from throughout the Network. Please contact us for more information. The International AFS Youth Volunteer Forum will be a great opportunity for young AFS Volunteers to participate in an international event to discuss our future and propose ideas and actions to help AFS achieve its strategic goals. They will return inspired and committed. This experience will provide participants with the satisfaction of being part of an historic global organization. The future is in the hands of our young AFS Volunteers—so let’s empower them now! We will really appreciate if you please share this initiative with your AFS Volunteers. In the next weeks we will be sharing further details.