AFS India Newsletter | December 2021

India

THE

Changemakers NEWSLETTER Your source to stay up yo date with AFS Intercultural Programs India’s activities, events and opportunities

Inside this issue 2021 brought us many events, highlights, and accomplishments that shouldn’t go uncelebrated. This issue of the December newsletter is the acknowledgement of our dear volunteers’ amazing work and this is our way of celebrating those events.

Read the Letter of Gratefulness to the Volunteers from the National Director Explore the achievements of our volunteers in Accolades to Cherish!

Navigate through the map to find out the activities of chapters; Ahmedabad, Anand, Bangalore, Chennai, Gandhinagar, Indore, Mumbai, Nashik, Pune, Rajkot, Vadodara.

Read the National Events to revisit the memories of the events we were in together (virtually).

Page 01 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

D E C 2 E 0 M2 B 1 E R

Message of Gratitude for our volunteers by our National Director AFS is a non-profit organisation governed by volunteers. Our volunteers are our main source of strength and stability.

More than a century ago, a group of ambulance drivers risked their lives to serve others; visionaries who transformed AFS into an international student exchange program. Finally, these exchange programs have assisted AFS in educating and preparing active andglobal citizens of today.

At AFS, we are defined by our volunteers and volunteerism. AFS relies entirely on volunteers. As AFS India enters 2022, we would like to take this opportunity to thank and express our gratitude to our incredible, hardworking, and dedicated volunteers. There are no words to express how grateful we are to them for ensuring that we continue to have an impact in society during the pandemic. Our volunteers never gave up, and despite the fact that the entire world was under lockdown, our brave volunteers continued to reach out to people and provide their services to those in need. The best part is that they made certain to follow all of the protocols issued by the authority and to continue on the path of volunteering.

They deserve a standing ovation.

The December 2021 newsletter is dedicated to the incredible contributions of our chapters/volunteers.

To be honest, if we started listing everything our volunteers did during the pandemic 2021, we’d have a 1000-page newsletter... We are only highlighting a few stories from each of our chapters.We at National Office are very proud of the work that has been completed, and we could not be more proud or grateful for the publication of this newsletter.

Dear Volunteers, on behalf of my team, please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your dedication and contribution to our mission, as well as my congratulations on your outstanding achievements. At the same time, I want to encourage you to keep up the good work you’ve done so far, to recruit more volunteers, host families, students and young adults into our programs, and people willing to spread our values. We have a responsibility to honour the AFS ambulance drivers’ legacy.

The younger generations deserve a better world and we shall renew our commitment for more justice and peace in the world oftomorrow.

Page 02 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

Accolades to Cherish!

AFS International Young Volunteer Award 2021 Honour and Gratitude.

By Sweta Sadhu, AFS Gandhinagar Ever since returning from my exchange program with a YES scholarship in 2017, I have proactively participated in AFS India’s activities: be it community service, orientations, counselling, training, workshops, or alumni engagement tasks. I have always looked forward to being of help to my chapter in my various capacities through leadership, oratory, and communication skills. Through my role, I have been able to teach and engage with many sending students, giving me opportunities to learn and interact with the new generations of exchange students.

Being the Sending Coordinator, I am in contact with the community and schools, actively seeking to expand intercultural education and the mission of AFS.

This year, we have not one but four outstanding awards presented to the volunteers of AFS India on International and Regional Platforms. We are immensely proud of our winners and heartily congratulate them.

For more than a year now, I have been interning with AFS India, leading alumni engagement initiatives. As part of this role, I was given the opportunity to head a national level alumni initiative: the Youth for Global Empathy project which resulted in a humongous success with a team of 20 alumni sensitizing 1500+ youth pan India.

With immense support, love and faith by AFS Gandhinagar, AFS India, friends and family, I am proud to have represented India on the International Platform. With deep gratitude for this acknowledgement of my volunteering, I wish to continue my journey with AFS in the future as well and be of service to the community.

The Young AFS Volunteer Award for Outstanding Service recognizes AFS volunteers under the age of 30 whose exceptional contributions to the organization have made a difference in advancing the mission and goals of AFS. This year, one of the two recipients of this prestigious award was Sweta Sadhu of Gandhinagar.

Page 03 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

AAI Awards 2021 It and He

by Madhusudan Rao, AFS Bangalore It all began for him Began for a reason Began as he embraced it Began perhaps, as it embraced him It gave him a structure An access to his sheer passion An umbrella to his Rains A harvest to his crops Spring to his dreams Dance to his music And work to his time It made him flourish Grow, mould and nourished For it is what he had perhaps wished For he contained all that it necessitated Time, energy, perhaps a perspective He was there To be here To go everywhere And here he is Like ducks to water He is a volunteer For it encapsulates humanity For he wishes it to go on and on Till he can or till it can…….

For the AFS Asia-Pacific Initiative Volunteer Awards, each AAI partner country was presented awards to their best volunteers. From India, we had received 27 nominations which were thoroughly screened and top 5 candidates were interviewed for the final assessment. The AFS India volunteers who won the AAI Volunteer Award 2020/2021 are Madhusudan Rao of Bangalore, Priya Jadav of Gandhinagar, and Roma Shah of Indore.

This poem is my genuine response to an amazing virtual moment in my life that not only recognized my hours spent volunteering for the organization but for all that I am as a person. Volunteering, as referred to as “it” in the poem is what the world needs most today. It feels amazing to have received this award of recognition from AAI and I can’t thank AFS India and Bangalore Chapter enough for all the support and motivation.

Page 04 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

Volunteering - An Integral Part of Me

by Priya Jadav, AFS Gandhinagar

I’m honoured to have been recognised by the AAI Volunteer Award 2020/21. I’m very grateful for the platform AFS India has given me to expand my horizons and learn various skills which have given me an open mind and a wider perspective. The constant guidance from the National Office, Volunteers, Friends & Family has helped me a lot throughout the years.

Being a part of 2 national level alumni projects in 2021 was a major highlight of my volunteer work. Youth for Global Empathy gave me the opportunity to become GCC Certified and lead a workshop on Empathy, whereas Change for Good trained me how to create and effectively pitch a project proposal.

From community service to working in the chapter’s Sending Team, I’ve learned a lot at AFS and I’m proud to say that a project I’ve always had in mind, was implemented in August’21, when I became the Founder of ‘Young India’, an NPO for imparting quality education among underprivileged children. This was only possible because of my past experience and learnings from the National Community Services of AFS India.

Page 05 | December2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

Why I like doing what I do in AFS?

by Roma Shah, Indore Chapter

My AFS journey began in 2013 when my daughter went on a school exchange program.

After that, there has been no looking back in volunteering for this organization. I have been actively encouraging others to participate as well as organizing activities in our chapter. In 2018, I was pleasantly surprised and happy to be nominated as the Vice-President of the Chapter and in 2021 the AAI award. Proud and happy moments!!

I have been a host mom to students from the US and Italy and Volunteers from Hungary.

As a chapter, we have been busy doing a lot of activities online to keep volunteers and students engaged. AFS school orientations not only helped us, but the students also got to know about the different programs AFS has to offer.

I think volunteering has brought out the best in me by helping me realize my potential. I hope to continue and influence more like-minded people. This appreciation and recognition would not have been possible without the support of all the volunteers from my chapter. So, a big thank you to each and all!

Page 06 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

Celebrating the Chapters!

1. Ahmedabad Chapter Local Virtual Cultural Exchange 2021 Ahmedabad and Italy 21st February and 21st March 2021

Ahmedabad Chapter presented Indian Culture to the volunteers of Italy as a part of Cultural Grip over Virtual Trip.

The Ahmedabad returnees made a powerful presentation on Ahmedabad, Gujarat and India; full of information on lifestyle, food, clothing, festivals, etc. The chapter volunteers also provided valuable inputs on their hosted students from Italy as well as returnees from Italy. The previously hosted Italian students had also joined the call which was the most heart-touching part of the event. The chapter also had proud moments when many Italian participants expressed their willingness to visit Ahmedabad during the presentations.

“It was an amazing experience to see and get to know so many curious and incredible volunteers from AFS Italy. We as a world sure did take a massive hit from the pandemic but we AFSers are known to get through the worst and bring out the best and that's exactly what we did.” said Anushree Modi, AFS Alumna

A true cultural expression on both sides.

Page 07 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

2. Anand Chapter Domestic Virtual Cultural Exchange Anand and Pune 7th February 2021

A virtual volunteer exchange between Anand and Pune chapter was conducted on 7th February 2021.

“We talked about our tourist places, festivals and cuisines. It was a wonderful experience for both the chapters and the interaction was very lively.”

- Ms. Dipti Patel, President, Anand Chapter

Anand Volunteers In Service of Young Girls July and August 2021

Distributing Meals The Famous Vadapav

True happiness lies in giving back to the community. The AFS family in India is the epitome of volunteerism, not just towards AFS as an organization, but also towards the society. The magnanimous volunteers of Anand have adapted themselves to the new normal and have continued to do their bit for the needy, especially the young girls of the underprivileged class.

On 5th August, the volunteers came together and distributed vada-pav among children of slum areas of Anand.

Celebrating Girls’ Vrat Festival

“It was priceless to see the smiles on their faces and a memorable experience for all of us who participated.”

- AFS Volunteer, Anand.

As a part of the Gujarati tradition, young girls take up 5 days fasting in July. To celebrate this festival and to encourage girls during their fasting, the chapter volunteers served them breakfast where they distributed about 40 kg of banana wafers, 20 kg of banana chew along with 10 boxes of chocolates. Despite the heavy rains which occasioned the service, there was high excitement among all the volunteers and the girls.

Page 08 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

Rangoli Competition October 2021

To celebrate the festival of lights, the chapter had arranged an Online Rangoli Competition in which 12 volunteers participated enthusiastically. All the participants made very beautiful and colorful rangoli with their skills and creativity. Mansi Diwakar bagged the 1st prize in the competition whereas Nisha Patel came second.

“AFS India had helped with the judging of the rangoli for which we are very thankful to the National Office.” - AFS Volunteer, Annad.

Local Exchange - India and Germany November 2021

Under the International Virtual Chapter Exchange Program, volunteers of AFS Anand met with the volunteers of the Hannover chapter of AFS Germany.

Ms Dipti pens the event as; “The first half of the meeting consisted of a presentation from the Hannover Chapter which was very knowledgeable and interesting. Following that, we had a brief Q&A session before going to the second half of the session.

Our presentation was prepared by Jiten Patel and Bhavesh Bhatt and presented by our alumni Brijesh Pansuriya, Siddharth Rathod, Parita Patel, Urja Patel and Bhavesh Bhatt. Then one of our hosted German students, Lea's father, shared his wonderful experience of India.

Sincerest thanks to AFS Anand volunteers, Hannover Chapter and AFS for this wonderful opportunity of intercultural immersion.”

Page 9 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

3. Bangalore Chapter World Environment Day June 2021

In continuation of their observance of World Environment Day 2021, the Bangalore Chapter hosted a session on the preparation of a low-cost, eco-friendly multi-purpose cleaner, for the volunteers pan India. This was a step towards their goal of sustainability.

Chapter Meetings Go Creative August 2021

Needless to mention the reason for the inevitability of virtuality everywhere lately! What saves the apparent monotony of it is creativity.

Every meeting in AFS Bangalore became more creative in making the volunteers take back something valuable at the end. The volunteers had elements of Millennial Lingo, understanding AFS in-depth, Gardening challenge, and Found poetry to name a few.

English Spoken Classes, A Bangalore Chapter’s Endeavor September 2021

What better than sharing the knowledge of an international language that has become Indian for centuries now!

“This has been extremely fruitful in keeping our volunteers active and has further motivated them to come up with several other initiatives every month. I thank AFS India for being the source of constant motivation.”

- Madhusudan Rao, President, Bangalore Chapter

The AFS Bangalore chapter under the guidance of AFS India, started their online Spoken English course for the registered volunteers from India, Colombia, Argentina, and Costa Rica in September 2021.

“It has been a lovely experience teaching the participants and the learning has been mutual in a way. As a trainer, I witnessed how certain syllables and words are varied in pronunciation in different countries. I, along with the team of other trainers have had happy teaching and learning days with this amazing group of English lovers” shared Madhusudan Rao, Chapter President & English Trainer.

The initiative concluded in December 2021.

Page 10 December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

PCOS Awareness September 2021

On 4th Sept, AFS India, in association with The PCOS Club India, completed "An Introduction to PCOS and How to Manage It" seminar, organised by YES Alumna, Madhuri NP. The seminar aimed to address the Myths revolving around PCOS and how to manage it. It was crucial to discuss this condition since 6 out of 10 women in India suffer from PCOS. The Seminar was attended by 20+ participants from various chapters of AFS. It was an engaging and informative seminar that highlighted the criteria to diagnose PCOS as well as the basic lifestyle changes that need to be practiced to reverse the symptoms.

Local Virtual Exchange India and Slovakia, A Cultural Deep Dive October 2021

On 17th Oct 2021, the virtual exchange with AFS Slovakia encapsulated the languages, festivities, music, dance, food and many other cultural elements for the cross-cultural enthusiasts of AFS Bengaluru chapter.

A one-minute kathak performance by a graceful dancer and a volunteer set the tone for the session and it all began with a beautiful metaphor of India being compared to a thali by Shashi Tharoor in The Great Indian Novel and ended on a note of how Indian society is evolving in terms of perceiving race and gender. A brief amount of light was also thrown on the education system of India and how Bangalore, as a city, has so much to offer for people from all walks of life. A small folk dance piece by everyone was the icing on the cake.

Karnataka Rajyotsava Day November 2021

On 28th November, the Bangalore Chapter celebrated the State’s formation Day, the Karnataka Rajyotsava Day in their own unique way!

Chapter volunteer Ms Vasudha Tavag writes her experience as, “We all met on zoom call, dressed in traditional Karnataka colours of red and yellow. A guest speaker, Mrs. Dakashiyani Raju, a retired school teacher (also an AFS ex-host mom), with a rich background in Karnataka culture, addressed us, throwing some light on the formation of this state, its history and rich culture. She ended her talk by playing a well known Kannada song on her keyboard.

Our President, Madhusudan Rao, then engaged all the volunteers in a session wherein we all introduced ourselves in Kannada. Many of our volunteers are from different states, yet, each is a proud Kannadiga. With this view, the volunteers were involved in a discussion on the importance of localness in being a Global citizen, thus emphasising the concept of GLOCAL.”

Page 11 December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

Christmas Conversations, Making Bonds Stronger!

December 2021

In the spirit of learning more about Slovakia, the chapter had its second session titled “Christmas Conversations” with the Bratislava Chapter wherein all the volunteers shared their family Christmas traditions and how they celebrate Christmas. The volunteers had a wonderful experience of learning about the unique Christmas traditions and what Christmas meant to each one of them. The session concluded with a fun game on Christmas.

“This session indeed made our bonds with AFS Bratislava stronger and we look forward to many more collaborations in the future.” - AFS Volunteer, Bangalore

4. Chennai Chapter Virtual Cultural Exchange Report October 2021

The volunteers of the Chennai chapter virtually connected with the volunteers of the Samutprakarn Chapter of AFS Thailand on 30th October 2021 to explore and learn a few things about each other's cultures.

An AFS Chennai volunteer shares their experience as, “We learned about the city of Samutprakarn and various activities the host students participate in. We also learned about different cuisines of Thailand. We learned how to cook “Gang Kiew Wan” or Green Curry, one of the famous Thai recipes. We found that the Thai volunteers use a similar instrument we use in Chennai to grind the ingredients in a more natural way than using an electrical machine. On our part, we shared a few facts about India and Chennai. We also showcased various traditional dresses, foods, sweets, Cricket, and the city’s IPL Cricket Team, CSK. We saw a few clips of traditional music remixed with Ed Sheeran’s song “Shape of You” and a clip of a famous Bollywood dance. We then talked about some of the national and local political figures and famous personalities of India. We also learned how to say numbers in Thai.

Despite the lockdown of cities, states and countries, it was very interesting to learn about a different culture from the comfort of our homes. We ended the call by sharing a few things which are similar in the Indian and Thai Cultures. A great and a unique experience indeed!”

Page 12 December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

5. Gandhinagar Chapter Hosting 2020-21 Dec 2020 to July 2021

Our YES ’19 alumnus, Virendra Vaghela and family successfully hosted Amaury Bouchez from France during the crucial times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sending 2021-22 August 2021

In August 2021, Jasmeet Kaur, a student from Mother Teresa World School starts her intercultural journey with the KL-YES Program as she goes to the US to begin her life in a year.

Alumni Workshops under National Alumni Project July 2021

Under the National Alumni Project Youth for Global Empathy, our two alumnae Priya Jadav (AFS’16) and Siya Joshi (YES’18) conducted a training titled ‘Young Changemakers” at the M B Patel English Medium High School, Gandhinagar on 23rd July which was attended by 78 enthusiastic students. Priya and Siya talked about Empathy, Types of Listening (through role play), Personal Identities, and the Culture-Person-Situation model.

Internship Opportunity at AFS India to Siya Joshi September 2021

Our YES ’18 alumna, Siya Joshi joins the National Office team as an intern who works from home and immensely supports the YES 2022-23 Selection Process. Siya intensively worked on the YES Selection Cycle 2022 on the national level, showcasing her ability to organise and handle prominent tasks.

Page 13 December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

Local Virtual Exchange - When Saree met Sabai September 2021

The first session under AFS International’s ‘Virtual Local Chapter Exchange’ was conducted on 5th September between the Gandhinagar Chapter of AFS India and Kamphaengphet & Pathumthani Chapters of AFS Thailand.

The virtual exchange took place over a 2-hour Zoom call where the volunteers of both countries shared about their cultures.

“From religions to rituals, clothes to food, we came to know about so many similarities both the cultures had. It certainly was a great experience and I thank AFS for organizing such a fantabulous event!” AFS Volunteer, Gandhinagar.

Keval Gajjar delivers SLJ FDS December 2021

The Chapter Vice-President, Keval Gajjar delivered 2 Facilitated Dialogue Sessions of the Student Learning Journey course of the ongoing cycle. Keval is the first from the chapter to facilitate an international session.

“I thank AFS India for making me skilled enough to deliver not one but two dialogue sessions on International Platform. SLJ is one of a kind program for the upcoming generations of exchange students and I’m happy to be a part of it” added Keval Gajjar

Page 14 December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

6. Indore Chapter Volunteers are Changemakers January 2021

AFS and Me! “My journey with AFS began way back in 2009 at the American Centre, Mumbai, memories of which are so vivid and fresh even today. I was waiting for the formalities to be over for the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program to the USA when suddenly a group of chirpy young girls caught my attention.

They were full of enthusiasm and life. My curiosity was triggered by their interesting conversation.

When I joined in to ask, they told me that they were going on an AFS YES exchange program. I was eager to know about the program. I believe that people do open their homes for strangers. Being Dean of Internationalism, I had organized many exchanges but it sounded very unique and exciting where an NGO organizes a wonderful intercultural opportunity and I was impressed by its inclusivity. While browsing about AFS in Miami I found out about the presence of AFS in India. I wrote to AFS India from the US and was overwhelmed by their response.

The first thing I did after my return was join AFS and since then it has become an inseparable part of my life. I feel privileged to be an AFSer. It makes me feel accomplished as a teacher and as a human being. Supported and motivated by Divyaji, I felt confident that I can make a difference in the lives of youngsters: the future Global citizens.

Volunteering has increased my self-confidence. When one is doing good for others and the community, it provides a natural sense of accomplishment. My role as a volunteer has given you a sense of pride and identity.

I find new meaning and direction in my life by helping others. Whatever my life situation, volunteering has helped me to take my mind off my own worries, kept me mentally stimulated, and added more zest to my life. Giving to others reduces stress, combat depression, keeps you mentally stimulated, and provides a sense of purpose. The most valuable assets you develop are compassion, an open mind, a willingness to pitch in wherever needed and a positive attitude.

It gave me the opportunity to practice and develop my social skills. One of the best ways to make new friends and strengthen existing relationships is to commit to a shared activity together. Being an AFSer is a great way to meet new people, strengthen ties to the community and broaden support networks, exposing you to people with common interests, neighborhood resources, and fun and fulfilling activities. I have learnt new skills, advanced my career, and even feel happier and healthier. In this journey I have at least a friend and welcoming home in every city where AFS has its presence.

I feel that the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more. That’s what AFS does.”

By Sarita Badhwar, AFS Indore Chapter

Page 15| December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

AFS School Orientation at DPS (Rau) and IPS. 28th and 31st July 2021

AFS School Orientation was for classes 7/8/9, in Delhi Public School and Indore Public School. About the event, Ms Roma Shah, Vice President, Indore Chapter shares; “An introduction about AFS was given by Ms. Sarita Badhwar and Ms. Manjula Devi from the National Office. The experiences shared by our returnees, Fatima Bandukwala and Suyashi Dwivedi (a short PPT presentation about host family, the places visited and how AFS has helped and shaped them) was very insightful. Suyashi also shared about her projects and achievements which was very motivational.

I shared about my journey with AFS from a sending parent ,to a host mom and now Vice- president of the Chapter.

Moreover, Gaurangi Mehta, Kratika Sisodiya and Harshwardhan Shastri (YES Program 2021-22 finalists) shared a few words about their application and selection process.”

Environment Conservation (Tree Plantation Drive) 9th September 2021

Tree Plantation Drive was organised by Vidyasagar School, Indore following all the safety protocols w.r.t the pandemic. The event saw participation from 6 member schools from Indore along with a few AFS Indore volunteers.

The participants were made aware towards the conservation of Nature and the planet. The event concluded with Basil plants distribution by Respected Ex MLA Mr. Satyanarayan Patel to all the participants of guest schools.

Page 16 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

7. Mumbai Chapter Local Chapter Exchange - Mumbai Meets Malang 18th and 25th September 2021

Under the AFS International’s ‘Virtual Local Chapter Exchange’, the Mumbai chapter and the Malang chapter of AFS Indonesia came together to create a wonderful event, sharing the excellence of both cultures. Anjum Panna, an AFS volunteer from Mumbai expressed her experience as; “We are so grateful to AFS India for giving us an opportunity to partner with, and share an intercultural exchange with Malang.

The event was attended by approximately 90+ volunteers from Mumbai and Malang. Before taking our counterparts on a journey of our city, we opened with giving glimpses of India, further delving into the history of our city, the metamorphosis it has undergone in all these years. This was followed by virtually navigating them through the aromatic streets of Mumbai which has so much to offer when it comes to the experimental palette of a Mumbaikar. Our festivities and passions that unite us together. The way we approach fashion. We emphasized not only on showing them around our city but gave them a sneak peek into the hearts of its people for it is the ‘People’ who set the fabric of a place.

To sum it up, we were so glad to see that most of them chose to react positively to the differences they were presented with. Because we believe that the world is made of reactions, you either look at something different and frown, or you look at the difference and marvel at the beauty of diversity this world has to offer.

Last but not the least we bid them goodbye with a parting gift – a song highlighting the similarities between our country and theirs, specially written and produced for them.

This exchange project led us towards understanding our fellow volunteer’s strengths and abilities. Working on this project got us closer than ever before.

Certainly a memory we are going to cherish for a long time!”

Page 17 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

8. Nashik Chapter Women’s Day Celebration March 2021

AFS Nashik celebrated the International Women’s Day differently this year by organizing a webinar on ‘Menstrual Health & Hygiene’ for all the female volunteers, their friends & family on 5th March 2021. The guest speaker for the event was Dr. Kshama Aghor, a noted gynecologist by profession.

Neha Patil, our Nashik chapter volunteer shared, “In the 2.5 hours long virtual session, Dr. Kshama gave insightful guidance on menstrual health and hygiene, followed by a Q & A session.

Nearly 50 participants attended the webinar.

Our heartiest thanks to Dr. Kshama Aghor for her expert facilitation on the subject. It was an amazing webinar and a great way to celebrate Women’s Day.” Kudos to the volunteers of Nashik Chapter who worked to make this event a major success.

The True Happiness Is To Be A Volunteer May 2021

By Manisha Bhole, Volunteer, Nashik Chapter

“I am in the process of becoming the best version of myself” – I strongly feel this, when I think about my journey as a volunteer of AFS India.

I was introduced to AFS by Mrs Yogita Shinde, my family friend and colleague. I attended a Christmas party of the host students and closely remember Rose, Mrs. Shinde’s first host daughter. It was a friendly environment. Mr. Shivaji Shinde Sir encouraged me to be involved in AFS India programs. I registered to volunteer with AFS India Nashik Chapter with the idea to explore the world, meet new people and learn their culture, but now when I reflect on my journey, I feel it has helped me explore even my inner world, my wisdom, my own capabilities, my strengths and much more.

At first, I worked as a counselor. The AFS India training for host families and counselors gave me courage and confidence.

Experience is something which helps you to develop yourself and AFS India gave me a lot of opportunities to experience, especially in the volunteer development department, school presentations, event management , community service and currently, even the privilege of working as a vice president of Nashik chapter.

My first journey by air and my first article in the Newsletter both are valuable memories for me . I learned to love more, I learned to have more friends, I learned to listen , I learned tofeel global. I learned to stay out of my comfort zone comfortably, I learned to become more human. I must say that each person I brought to this organization is becoming a better version of themselves.

The true happiness is to be a volunteer. Volunteering actually gives you tremendous satisfaction, good health, beautiful vision and creative mind, a vision to see a better version of a new peaceful world having global citizens. I cannot sum up my journey in one article. The Kolhapur community Service and volunteer exchange program to Indore were great memories for me. It’s a beautiful thing that in these difficult two year AFS India has not stopped in their pursuit of making this world a better place.

I hope this journey remains unstoppable.”

Page 18 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

9. Pune Chapter Clothes Drive by the Volunteers January 2021

Through the month of January, on the occasion of Republic Day, AFS Pune Chapter helped out our fellow Indians in need, by donating our clothes. The drive lasted 22 days, from 9th to 30th January, 2021.

A total of 1170 items were collected. Collected Clothes were donated to Share With India, an Alandi based Organisation, which serves 150-180 people. Volunteers - Santosh Bhujbal, Sayali Rajpathak, Yashodhan Shende, and Vaishnavi Mane offered their houses as collection/drop-off centres for the drive. All the clothes collected were appropriately checked, sorted and dropped off at Share With India's Centre in Guruwar Peth, Pune.

10. Rajkot Chapter Navratri Competition February 2021

Mr Nayan Shah, President of the Rajkot Chapter took the opportunity to drive all the chapter's volunteers to participate in the auspicious festival of Navratri through a competition and help them be part of the fun.

Three different tournaments focusing on Navratri Dress, Traditional Garba Dance, and Pooja Thali Decoration were organised in this competition.

We heartily congratulate all the winners and deeply appreciate all the participants.

Page 19 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

VOLUNTEERS ARE CHANGEMAKERS March 2021

By Ajay Mehta, AFS Rajkot Chapter

“‘What is the essence of life? To serve others and to do good.’ This quote from Aristotle epitomises the spirit of volunteering with AFS. A chance meeting with Ms. Sonal Mehta, from Vadodara in 2010 introduced me to a wonderful volunteering opportunity with AFS. As a teacher of English and multicultural communication skills, I got interested in improving upon my intercultural competence.

I got actively involved in all the activities at chapter as well as national level. In 2011, I got an opportunity to be a part of AFS Indo-German Volunteer Exchange Program funded by Robert Bosch Foundation. That was my first exposure to AFS Intercultural learning. Thereafter I got interested in honing my skills as a trainer of intercultural learning. I attended ICL Level 1 and NQT workshops and became a qualified trainer. I have learnt a lot by attending several Training of Trainers workshops and facilitating training sessions for volunteers, students, host families, counsellors and teachers. I have conducted orientations of hosted students at chapter and national levels.

I have been a qualified facilitator for the Intercultural Link Learning Program, Global Competence Certificate and Global You Adventurer Program. It is on the Wish-list of every interculturalist of the world to attend the Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication organised at Portland, Oregon, and I was lucky to attend a workshop on Training Design for Intercultural Learning, facilitated by Dr. Janet Bennett and Dr. Michael Paige in July 2016. I got an opportunity to conduct country specific orientation In Italy in 2019 for Italian students who were supposed to come to India for AFS Programs. As a teacher I have always felt that AFS offers wonderful learning opportunities to people of any age and educational background.

Volunteering with AFS has not only changed my life but my family members as well. My son was selected for the KL-YES Program to the U.S. in 2012. It was a life changing experience for him.

My wife is a teacher of drawing and painting. It was her dream to showcase paintings on Indian culture. This dream became a reality when an AFS Germany volunteer arranged an exhibition of Paintings on Indian culture titled ‘Colours of India’ in Idstein, Germany in 2014. My wife has conducted a couple of online workshops for AFS exchange students in the last couple of months.

Volunteering with AFS India has been a transformative experience. It has helped me connect with volunteers, staff members and students from different countries. It has helped me imbibe qualities necessary to be a global citizen. I consider myself very lucky to be a part of the organisation that was created as a volunteer ambulance drivers corps in 1915.”

Page 20| December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

Local Virtual Cultural Exchange India and Argentina, Cultural Deep dive 18th September 2021

On one hand, the pandemic has posed many challenges and on the other hand, it has opened up many avenues of fun and learning. AFS Rajkot chapter was paired with Mendoza chapter of AFS Argentina for a virtual cultural tour on September 18, 2021.

Mr Nayan Shah, President, Rajkot Chapter, writes his experience as, “There were about 30 volunteers who participated in the session. The session started with self-introduction by volunteers. It was followed by a video showcasing the Argentinian dance form. Then AFS Rajkot chapter volunteers gave presentations showcasing Indian classical dance forms, Indian cuisine, Places to visit, Indian Festivals etc. There was a live performance of Garba (Gujarati folk dance form) by a volunteer from the Rajkot chapter.

Then the Mendoza chapter volunteers took the charge and showcased their cuisine, places of interest and notable personalities. All in all, it was a memorable virtual event for the volunteers of the participating chapters.”

Community Service Standing Together in COVID Times October 2021

Taking forward the spirit of volunteerism, the volunteers of Rajkot conducted yet another impactful activity in their city.

After the deadly 2nd wave of COVID 19, a few volunteers from the Rajkot Chapter in collaboration with AFS member school, St. Mary’s, prepared and distributed ration kits to the slum areas of the city. St. Mary’s School in itself prepared over 450 ration kits and each kit contained 15 different items essential to run a small family for 15 days. Mr Ajay Mehta and Mr Nayan Shah contributed funds for some ration kits and helped in packaging and distributing it to the needy.

Page 21 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

11. Vadodara Chapter Fundraising - Coming Together For A Cause February, August 2021

The volunteers of Vadodara chapter participated in various fundraising activities organised by AFS India throughout the year. The volunteers showed active participation in fundraisers like Pehnawa and GCC for One & All (collected Rs 8500).

Cultural Grip over Virtual Trip Between Vadodara & Hungary May 2021

The chapter volunteers along with alumni participated in the event for presentation of Indian Culture, Tradition, Festival, etc held on 8th May & 15th May respectively between AFS Vadodara & AFS Hungary.

The virtual trip was a success as both countries’ volunteers expressed their eagerness to visit the respective countries and indulge into the beautiful cultures, food, and festivals.

1. Showcasing preparation of Indian Sweet to Yes Abroad Students – May 2021 Priti Gohel has shown the Yes Students about how to prepare Magas (Indian Sweet) 2. Host Family & Counselor Orientation – August 2021 Chapter volunteers along with the National Office performed online virtual orientation of Host Family & Counselor on 27th August 2021.

Online Cooking Classes for NSLI-Y-VSI Students July 2021

On 23rd July, for the NSLI-Y Virtual Summer Intensive (VSI) Program 2021, Ms Preeti Gohel conducted a session focusing on Indian cuisine.

The participating students were shown live recipes for a Gujarati meal. Ms Gohel started with a semolina halwa and the students accompanied. It was then followed by making aloo sabzi and puri in order to make it a complete meal. It was quite an interactive session where the students enjoyed themselves to the fullest and learned to cook some Indian dishes.

Page 22 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

Volunteer Workforce Program July 2021

Mrs. Archana Vashishtha was selected for the Volunteer Workforce Program to create an impact.

Virtual Hosting of US Students July 2021

With the pandemic making our lives virtual, AFS Intercultural Programs adapted the virtual mode of hosting for some of the programs. Mrs. Sonal Bankim Mehta & Mrs. Dhara Chetan Vyas volunteered as the virtual Host Families to the exchange students from the US.

Sending of the KL-YES Students July 2021

The Vadodara Chapter sent two brilliant students, Aarchi Sorathia and Mahi Vachhani, on the KL-YES Program for the academic year 2021-22.

Alumni Intern at AFS India National Office August 2021

Drashti Wani, YES alumna and volunteer of Vadodara Chapter, performed the duty of Alumni Intern with AFS India as the Interns Team Leader from November 2020 to August 2021.

AFS Short term Program to Italy September 2021

Successfully coordinated by Sonal Mehta, the chapter sent Dhanashree Gajjar of Cygnus World School on an AFS Short Term Program to Italy.

Hosting of AFS Student October 2021

Mr Vyas and family have hosted Antonio Urzua from Chile, who is studying in New Era School. Antonio is enthusiastically participating in the school activities and is happy to be here, exploring Indian culture.

Celebration of 16th Birthday of AFS India November 2021

Around 11 volunteers of AFS Vadodara participated in the wonderful celebration of AFS India’s 16th-anniversary celebratory video.

Page 23 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

National Events AFS India Town Hall and Open House

AFS IND day Celebration

February & June 2021

AFS India Town Hall and Open House Calls on 27th February and 26th June 2021, AFS India conducted a virtual Town Hall Meet and Open House Event respectively with its vibrant volunteers. It was heartwarming to note that nearly 100 volunteers attended both events. They were extremely fun and engaging as volunteers got to interact with some known but a few new faces.

During the meets, AFS India staff presented the Highlights of 2020, wherein they showcased some important events in each AFS department that were successfully implemented in 2020. The volunteers were also briefly informed about the changes planned for them in 2021 and how to work towards them.

To celebrate AFS India Day and Diwali 2021, the volunteers were encouraged to share their videos with The National Office where each volunteer passed on a candle or a diya (virtually) from one to another.

A total of 115 clips were received.

After the final cuts and edits, 9 videos were prepared of 1 minute each. These videos were published on social media and sent to all the chapter groups on Whatsapp.

Virtual ICL - W Level Training in Chapters The first Virtual W level Volunteer Training was conducted for the volunteers in Bangalore, Nashik, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad Chapters.

Our GCC qualified Facilitators Mr. Ajay Mehta and Mrs.Richa Parasher conducted the 2-day Virtual Training. From the feedback gathered from the volunteers, the energy levels of participants were high. A mix of senior as well as new volunteers had attended the training.

Volunteers who attended wrote; “Seeing all the volunteers interacting with each other was really wholesome. I really loved the part where we were put into breakout rooms. I felt like we connected there and it was fun to learn about different perspectives.”

“My perspective about cultures has changed, and I'm more accepting about the differences now.”

“The training has broadened my view on how to deal with i ntercultural differences. It made me understand certain things we do daily and don't realize like high and low context, DIVE, etc.”

Page 25 December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

AFS IND Volunteers Engagement at International Level International Volunteer Day Celebrations AFS India Celebrated International Volunteer Day - on 5th December 2021 and sent wishes to all the volunteers.

Facilitators for Student Learning Journey 10 amazing volunteers from AFS India volunteered as facilitators for the Student Learning Journey. They met the requirements of facilitating at least 2 sessions and also underwent the on-boarding training to perform their role as a Student Learning Journey Facilitator. The volunteers are; 1. Deepak Solanki - Indore Chapter 2. Madhuri NP - Bangalore Chapter 3. Manshi Gala - Mumbai Chapter 4. Sarita Badhwar - Indore Chapter 5. Siddhant Shah - Ahmedabad Chapter 6. Vibhooti Maldhari - Ahmedabad Chapter 7. Aditya Choudhury - Varanasi Chapter 8. Keval Gajjar - Gandhinagar Chapter 9. Sundari Surya - Bangalore Chapter 10. Neha Sharma - Delhi Chapter

What is Student Learning Journey?

Student Learning Journey is a new online educational component for high-school year exchange students to complement and enhance the Orientations and Monthly Reflections that happen at the national and local levels.

AFS has partnered with the Center of Social Impact Strategy (CSIS) at the University of Pennsylvania, to add specific social impact content to the program and ensure that students have the knowledge and tools to take positive action in their global and local communities.

Page 25 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

Facilitators for Sir Cyril Taylor Program (Effect+ for Classroom) The facilitators conducted 90 mins of live sessions for the educators from 15+ countries and facilitated on topics like culture and differences, D.I.V.E, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and other intercultural topics to gain Intercultural competency and carry it forward in their classroom teaching.

These are the 4 Amazing volunteer facilitators for Sir Cyril Taylor Program (Effect+ for Classroom); Sarita Badhwar - Indore Chapter: 6 Sessions Sapna Sukul - Delhi Chapter: 4 sessions Aditya Chaudhury - Varanasi Chapter: 4 Sessions Vibhooti Maldhari - Ahmedabad Chapter: 5 Sessions

What is the Sir Cyril Taylor Program?

Sir Cyril Taylor Program (Effect+ for Classroom) is a very prestigious program by AFS International and has won an award from UNESCO for 2021 Best Practices for Intercultural Understanding/Global Citizenship Education. 281+ teachers from 15+ countries are enrolled in the online self-paced program on Global Up platform including 50 teachers from India.

The facilitators for the same were from 15 countries. The facilitators facilitated live sessions of 90 mins per session where they debriefed the sessions that the teachers had done on the Global Up platform.

Adequate training was given to the facilitators on how to conduct the sessions and debrief the topics of the Global Up Program. The response from the participating teachers with regards to the facilitated live sessions was overwhelming.

AFS India saw the highest number of participation and engagement from the participating teachers as well as the facilitators.

Page 26 | December 2021 | Newsletter | AFS India

AFS Mission AFS Intercultural Programs is an international, voluntary, non- govermental, 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 Values 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 tolerance 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 witout 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.

For any Suggestions, or sharing stories or experiences, please write at india@afs.org Learn more about AFS at india.afs.org Be inspired by our History at india.afs.org/afs-timeline/ Connect with us at: facebook./afsindia youtube.com/afsindiaofficial twitter.com/IndiaAFS instagram.com/afs_india

AFS Intercultural Programs 163, Ground Floor, Jasola Vihar, Pocket 2 New Delhi , 11025, Indiia www.india.afs.org | india@afs.org