August 2018 | Issue VIII
A world-class intercultural educational organization; a global movement to develop and activate global citizens AFS Intercultural Programs India is an international, voluntary, nongovernmental, 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 Intercultural Programs India
Newsletter
Your source to stay up to date with AFS Intercultural Programs India’s activities, events & opportunities www.india.afs.org | india@afs.org
GO ABROAD STUDY ABROAD
Discover new things about yourself and find your place in the world by going abroad.
VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER
Join a Global community of changemakers & serve a change agent in your community.
What’s Inside? 02 | 03 | 04 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
Editorial by Aadil F. AFS Exchange to India in 1968 Intercultural Learning Learning Opportunities Regional Class Exchange Program Hosting Stories Alumni Changemakers Stories from the World Volunteer Stories International Volunteer Exchange Program
Upcoming Events September - Chapter Training - Discovery Day
HOSTHOST AN AFSer Experience your world through the eyes of a young person from another country.
EDUCATION SCHOOLS
Implement AFS Intercultural Learning Programs at your school for your students & educators.
Editorial by Aadil F. New Curriculum For A Better Tomorrow “Modern education was only inculcating materialistic values which was not sufficient,” said His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama during the launch of Delhi government’s Happiness Curriculum. Happiness Curriculum consists of various activities such as meditation, joyful exercises, value education, skits, indoor games, storytelling, and much more for students from nursery to grade 8th. Through the 45-minute happiness period, the aim is make a ‘good human being’ over a period of time ‘who could serve the society with happiness’. The program is more activity-based with no exams, but it comes with a periodic assessment of children’s progress via the ‘Happiness Index’ Our education system, structured since ages, solely focuses on teaching in mere black and white, pushing children to get better grades and thus, head towards a future with better jobs. In the 21st century, we face an urgent need of change in curriculum in our education system. We must question the primary purpose of education; whether it is to settle with better paying jobs or in terms of Martin Luther King Jr, helping one to think intensively and critically, with focus on not just intelligence, but also building character. Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills, and Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary-General at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said, “In the past, education was about teaching people something. Now, it’s about helping students develop a reliable compass and the navigation skills to find their own way through an increasingly uncertain, volatile and ambiguous world.” UNESCO MGIEP, partner for the AFS Global Conference 2018, in Budapest this month, talks about a recent neuroscience research that shows that students need to be aware and emotionally connected before they can learn much of anything. That’s how social and emotional learning enhances all learning. In today’s world, we need to teach children to be a good human being first who is tolerant, compassionate, empathetic and more. We need to prepare them for the unforeseen future. The 21st century reminds us to have a new outlook towards social reconstruction and cultural reproduction. We want to build our society in a way that can help us build a better tomorrow over a period of time, not with someone who just has plenty of knowledge of all the academic world, but also have the values of respect, tolerance, communication etc. We also need to push children to go beyond their comfort zone and explore the world that exists all around us. We also have to remind ourselves that how we owe to the future generation to transmit our cultural values from one generation to another, and whether, these cultural values are also teaching others the philosophy of peaceful coexistence, tolerance, diversity and more, and most importantly, learning how to live together peacefully. But how do we do that? – We need to keep improving, building on our past strategies and ideas to build a better curriculum for a better tomorrow, and that requires, regular reflection, research, 2
Aadil F. Manager - Communications, Branding & Volunteer Development AFS Intercultural Programs India
capacity building for educators, keeping up with the new improved pedagogies, and ready to implement unique ideas to keep up with the change. Children should be involved in other activities, programs, trainings and workshops to go beyond classroom learning. This is where AFS plays a significant role in creating curriculums to reinforce 21st-century educational goals. AFS works closely with educators, volunteers, alumni, and other stakeholders around the world to create improvised strategies to build a better tomorrow. AFS prepares young people to become global citizens. With its curriculum-based program, it empowers students, host families, and volunteers to gain essential knowledge and practical skills needed to live in a diverse and multicultural world. It helps the world learn how to live together by building the global competencies via their own curriculum which is highly valued by educators, employers, humanitarians, and communities. AFS not only helps you gain perspective and knowledge of the world but pushes you to be a better human being. Over the last decade, AFS India has worked closely with over 1000 Indian Students who have gone abroad, more than 500 hosted students from all over the world and 1000 plus volunteers pan-India, and they feel that AFS’s goal-based curriculums have pushed them to become an active responsible global citizen. It’s time that we recognize the importance of keeping up with changing times and the need for adapting to the curriculum to reinforce 21st century educational needs. If you’re an educator or a policy-maker, I encourage you to reinforce values in your students that can help them become a good human being by building their social and emotional intelligence. Guide them to be the change-makers the world needs today.
AFS EXCHANGE TO INDIA IN 1968
Let AFS Take You To A Culture You Never Dreamed Of By Jonathan Hollander, AFS-Summer Program, India, 1968. AFS Host Brother, Sweden, 1967-68 “The memory is incredibly vivid although it was 50 years ago: Grabbing a large manila envelope out of the mailbox on the porch of my suburban Maryland home and pulling out a sheaf of papers with a small black and white snapshot affixed to the top page. A family -- a mother dressed in a sari, father in oxford shirt and trousers, son in shorts, daughter in sari -- standing closely together on a small balcony with the urban landscape of Bombay stretching out below. This was the first indication that I was not going to Norway, Brazil, Turkey… but even farther away geographically and culturally – to India! How could I have known how seamlessly and completely I would become a part of that family’s world? How could I imagine that the life I led over those three months would change me forever, shape my career path, guide my philosophy, and expand my friendships and family exponentially? Today I am the Artistic Director of Battery Dance Company which I founded four decades ago and through which I have
produced choreography with titles like, ‘Songs of Tagore’, ‘Layapriya’, and most recently, ‘SHAKTI: A Return to the Source’! I am co-founder of the Indo-American Arts Council in New York, and spent the last twenty years helping to propagate the arts of India in America’s cultural capital. Through the Battery Dance Festival which I created 37 years ago, I have provided a platform for exponents of the eight classical dance forms of India, thereby awakening audiences in the tens of thousands to the dances that entranced me as a teenage AFSer in Bombay. These days, though I studied classical piano for 13 years and love Western classical music, I am more apt to be seen at a Hindustani vocal concert than at the New York Philharmonic; as likely to conjure up dhal, saffron rice and gobi curry as to whip up a pasta pesto; and to favor a Kuchipudi arangetram over a ballet recital. The Jonathan I am now is definitely the post-AFS Jonathan, and I am so very grateful for that. If I could speak to every high school parent, to every high schooler, to every headmaster or mistress, I would say this: Let AFS take you to a culture you never dreamed of. Get that passport stamped and take the leap of faith. What awaits you is a family somewhere that will open its doors and hearts to you; and you will return the favor either directly, or throughout the rest of your life.”
In front of Jonathan’s house in Maryland when his Indian host parents came to visit him in America
3
Photo Above: Group of students being part of the interactive exercise
INTERCULTURAL LEARNING
Effect+ Global Citizenship Education Workshop “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi Gandhiji said “If you change yourself you will change your world. If you change how you think then you will change how you feel and what actions you take. And so the world around you will change. Not only because you are now viewing your environment through new lenses of thoughts and emotions but also because the change within can allow you to take action in ways you wouldn’t have – or maybe even have thought about – while stuck in your old thought patterns.”
1
Effect+ workshops used interactive learning methods to teach students how they can advance the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while also helping them develop intercultural competences, become savvy about the world around them, and be prepared to make an impact in their local communities. This supports the global movement to advance intercultural learning and global citizenship education and AFS’s role in it. This project emerged from the Efeito+ Global Citizenship Education workshop for local impact, a community impact event that was held during the 2016 World Congress in Rio de Janeiro by AFS Brazil, AFS International and Children’s International Summer Villages (CISV) Rio. Throughout 2017, AFS Brazil replicated the event in two municipalities. In 2018, it plans to hold five more Effect+ workshops. In addition to working toward the AFS Impact Goals in the
2 1 & 2 - Students engaging in the discussions 4
new AFS Strategy, we could strengthen our relationships with existing school partners, gained introductions to and welcome into the AFS network as new school partners, advocate Sustainable Development Goals #4 (Education) & #16 (Peace), collaborate with other local organizations who shared our values - to join the AFS Learning-to-Live-Together movement, gain positive visibility for AFS as an educational organization. AFS India wanted to reach out to least 10 schools and 500 students in pan India by August 2018 with Effect+ workshops - all in support of the AFS Impact Goals and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The response was overwhelming as the school started in July. So far we have trained 418 and will reach the target of 500 students in 13 schools across the country. AFS India had webinars with National office under the guidance of National director Divya Arora. ICL trainers team consisting of Najmuzzaman Mohammad, Arvind Agrawal, Ajay Mehta, Sarita Badhwar, Keval Gajjar, Manshi Gala, Chaitanya Gokhale, Pankti Gohel and Nishita Mehta came forward to make the event successful. Our sponsors were Info Beans Indore. Dr. Sumer Singh encouraged the project by getting the sponsorship due to which 500 students and 13 schools could reap the benefit of the educational workshop. We had constant guidance from Ana Carolina Cassiano.
3
4
To become a change maker it is important that each individual identifies the strength in oneself. Activities of the workshop were so designed so that the students know themselves, understand the interconnectivity and interdependence. How individual action can cause “butterfly effect“ intentionally or unintentionally lead to a positive or negative effect. “What’s my place”, students got to empathize with different types of people around the world and their problems through their characters. They realized the privileges they have and how to use them to help people who don’t have these privileges. Finally in session“we generate Effect +”, the students wrote down what they learnt during the whole day and also identified how they want to effect change in their community. They formed groups for cleaning rivers, stopping plastic use, stopping gender discrimination and supporting animals. They reflected what next steps they can take in these groups. Keynote speakers brought a spice to the workshop. Students had interactive sessions wherein global concerns like gender equality, leadership, sustainability, environment, educational opportunities, inclusive societies and caring for rivers were discussed. Student participation was commendable. We are grateful to students, principals and staff of Chanderbala Modi Academy, Ankleshwar, Gujarat; The Emerald Heights International, Indore; British Co Ed . School, Patiala; Vidyashilp Bangalore; Punjab Public School, Nabha; Heritage School , Jammu; Pine Grove School, Solan [H.P]; Mayo College Girls School, Ajmer; Sanskar Valley 5
5 3 - Students engaging in the discussions 4 & 5 - Key-note speakers sharing their valuable learning with the students School, Bhopal; Choithram International School, Indore; Sunbeam Schools, (Lahartara and Varuna) Varanasi; M.B. Patel English Medium Secondary & Higher Secondary School, Gandhinagar; Global City International School, Bangalore; and Pragnya Bodhini High School, Mumbai who participated enthusiastically and supported the workshop whole heartedly. We also thank our key note speakers for their valuable contribution to the workshops and enthuse the students by their contribution as a Change maker of the community. Our journey of helping the youngsters to grow and become the global citizens of the tomorrow’s world continues.
Photo Above: During discussion
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
STARTUP EDGE (the Hands-On Business Challenge) at the Emerald Heights International School, Indore STARTUP EDGE (the Hands-On Business Challenge) is a transformational competition designed to inspire young people to become innovative entrepreneurs and take their ideas to the next level. Participants are taken through a three day journey in teams where they create startups and work on diverse ideas. AFS India is an Outreach Partner for STARTUP where our aim is to provide this opportunity to AFS India Member Schools’ students which can help develop creative capacity, entrepreneurial confidence and acquire the necessary skills to build scalable start-ups that solve real problems as a part of teams. AFS India Member School, Emerald Heights International School, Indore, conducted STARTUP EDGE from 14th to 16th July 2018. The program went very well and it was wellreceived by the students and educators.
Photo Above: Presenting their Start-up Ideas
Become an AFS India Member School Educating global citizens to
EDUCATION make a real difference. A world-
class intercultural education organization, AFS helps the world learn to live together.
Participants created their own startup based on design thinking and pitch it on the final day to the experts. 6
REGIONAL
CLASS EXCHANGE PROGRAM
He changed in just one week, his behavior, lifestyle, confidence. He became more positive about everything. We observed that now he is also taking more interest in his studies.
“I couldn’t have given a more precious gift to my son than this...” By Archana Gunjal, Mother of Saharsh Gunjal, AFS Regional Class Exchange Program Participant “Saharsh who is in 9th std. had participated in Regional Class Exchange Program for a week. I was so impressed seeing the change in Saharsh that I joined as an AFS volunteer. This experience was extremely beautiful, and it cannot be measured. Initially, we were not ready to send him but we agreed because of his request. He got a Gujarati Pandit family there. We also got a new relationship for whole life. In the beginning, I was a little worried about my son and his adjustment in a new family but surprisingly he got mixed up very easily with them and was enjoying so much that I was worried if the program period gets extended then he would definitely forget us! I was happily surprised that he was easily accepting all things which he never did here at his own home even after being told multiple times, he never did it but now he does things happily.
7
Before this program, whenever any guest or relatives came home, he never took interest to interact with them. We had to call him many times but now he himself takes interest to welcome guests and to communicate with them happily and confidently. I must admit, this is an amazing change for which we feel so happy and content. Actually, everything is beyond words. I couldn’t have given a more precious gift to my son than this. In future maybe we will arrange a bigger trip but I’m sure that trip won’t be able to give such happiness and exposure that my son got from this exchange program. So, hearty thanks to AFS Intercultural Programs India. Thanks to Maratha High School, Shivaji Shinde Sir and HM Pingale Sir. Special thanks to Baste Sir of Maratha High School.” Photo below: Welcome during regional class exchange program
HOSTING STORIES
Independence Day of India Celebrations in at AFS India Nashik Chapter
Shangrilla Waterpark By Mansi Shinde, AFS India Volunteer “The host families had together decided to go to the Shangrilla Waterpark, near Bhiwandi, Kalyan on 6th June 2018. All together we were 12 people left together with happy, smiling faces waiting eagerly to reach the destination. It was adorable. There were children playing in the pool, there were women smiling everywhere and men swimming and teens as usual. There was music playing all around and everyone dancing and moving on the beats. Our AFS team was enjoying doing those really fun rides and slides. We also went to Bhandardara for the “Fireflies Fest” (Kajava Mohattsav). The experience at Fireflies Fest was exceptional. They were just amazing. Those little lives on the trees felt like the trees were decorated with lights on Diwali. It felt as if there were thousands of them dancing on the branches to reveal their beauty. Just amazing. It was really a memorable trip for all of us, even now everyone talks about it. Thank you AFS!”
Photos Above: Enjoying at the waterpark 8
Hosted Students celebrated Independence Day of India at their Schools with pride in Nashik with educators and students.
Independence Day of India with Honourable Governor of Gujarat Shri Omprakash P. Kohli By Sneha Patel, AFS India Gandhinagar Volunteer “On 15 August, 2018, ten students from every school of Gandhinagar District were invited at the Rajbhavan by the Honourable Governor of Gujarat Shri Omprakash P. Kohli in order to celebrate the 72nd year of Independent India. AFS Gandhinagar Chapter President Dr. Varsha Parekh, also the assistant teacher of M.B. Patel English Medium Secondary and Higher Secondary School, took a special permission for
the host students Kaan and Ippo to meet the Honourable Governor and congratulate him on the day of glory and pride of India. They accompanied ten students from M.B. Patel English Medium Secondary and Higher Secondary School along with the Principal Mr. Arpit Christian and the in charge teacher Mr. Yogendra Chauhan. The Honourable Governor was also very pleased to meet them and welcomed them heartily to join in the celebrations of the rich cultural heritage of India. Ten years of association of M.B. Patel English Medium Secondary and Higher Secondary School with AFS is creating wonders and truly fulfilling the noble objectives of humanity.�
With the Honorable Governor of Gujarat
9
ALUMNI
The Journey And The Coming Home
CHANGEMAKERS
By Manshi Gala, YES’12 Alumni from Mumbai “Smile..smile..click..click..Manshi..this pose..here this one.. wow..it turned out so beautiful!... You are amazing! Wow, such a beautiful capture! Aee photographer I just have to look around and you are there. Oh my god! When did you click this? And many more comments…
Kids posing with their portraits
All this was only possible with that one of the many Christmas gifts received on Christmas night. And that was the beginning of many more smiles to come, many more memories to capture... many more shutters to be released and pressed. That one faith and request to write a letter to Santa... I just asked Santa to help me save few bucks here and there, so that I can buy a camera, and my host family made it happen. I was so dumb! I wanted a camera with a long lens, with good zoom but didn’t know what it was called! Well now, I know it’s called a DSLR. I had only described it and my host family gifted me the real one. They had all the gifts mentioned in my letter and many more which I could take back. They waited for me to open gifts one by one and asked me to open that little box last. I was least expecting. My first ever American Christmas, which I had only seen in Hollywood movies, was now real! It was one of those precious nights! Yes it was a beautiful Canon SX500 IS SLR, 16.0 Mega-pixels, with 30X IS zoom...it was so precious that I didn’t use it for a couple of days, my family thought I didn’t like it or it wasn’t working. They asked me if I needed a battery. I said it’s new so I’m saving it for good and grand memories. They made me realize that it’s time that I start using it and make every little thing grand. The moment I started using it, I went to my photo professor Mr. Marietta at High school and showed him my extraordinary Christmas gift. He said that it’s beautiful and that now onwards I will have lots of fun with it. I used it all the time; it was around my neck like a part of my body. I tried all kinds of shots, clicks, angles, and experimentation. I took it everywhere, so I could capture and build on my memories. All worked out perfectly well. So, I was back home and the exchange year was over. My little camera continued to be with me in my hometown and everyone who saw it loved its design. I also got comments like - I am like one of the foreigners in my own country as I was moving around with my camera. Well, so I was at college and it was my last year with 6 weeks of internship to finish before I graduate. I was placed with this NGO named Muskan in Mumbai and they were working on child mental health. These kids were under trauma; they had witnessed an accident. It was a tragedy in which they lost every single thing in 10
the huge fire. All they had were memories of their times. They had seen everything nice and shining to all burnt black ruins. They described that it was black and fuming that they couldn’t locate their homes. All they had were memories and with time they were recovering. After this tragedy, I met them after a good six months. I had known all their experiences. I had to plan activities for them which involved some kind of psychotherapy, learning, attention and everything I could use to involve them and help them. They wouldn’t trust any outsider easily, nor would they smile or anything. Well, my precious gift helped me get their smiles captured making it their first memory after all the unwanted negative things that happened in their life. I wanted to involve photography, so all I decided was to fund the entire thing. I clicked single portrait shots of these kids. They were informed earlier about it, parents consent was taken before getting them printed. They were asked to create their own beautiful photo frames. They stuck it on card paper made designs with marker and wrote their names and date. It turned out to be so successful and positive. There was a smile on everyone’s face including me. I was glad I could use both my skills, it was only possible because of the camera my family gifted me. It still is precious and the only camera I use and I own until now! It’s been 4 years now…the camera brought smiles on so many faces, captured all sorts of moments. It’s with the same battery; never knew that one precious Christmas gift would do so much in my life! It’s been a year since I have graduated, I had been a volunteer from the time I have returned home. Also, I have been selected as a National Qualified Trainer (NQT) in India, therefore sharing exchange stories all throughout; there has never been a single day that I have not missed my exchange year, or those times. Sure, that I do the same things differently in my day-to-day life, which sometimes stands out in my home country and is noticed and appreciated by people around. I continue to give my heart to my experience. CIEE has played such a major role throughout my exchange, all those successful monthly contacts and timely counseling have helped me and made my year a great success! I am proud to be a CIEE & AFS Alumni. I still remember the feeling of happiness that I felt to see my Coordinator Pam came to receive me at the Airport and the CIEE package which reached before me and was in my cupboard with the welcome brochure and t-shirt as soon as I reached my host family. Thank you so much for all your love and support!! Thank you YES & AFS Program!”
Najmu with his team
Sustainability Innovation Lab 2018 by Unleash Najmuzzaman Mohammad (YES’08), who is currently based in Bangalore participated in an event named Unleash Lab 2018 from 30th May to 6th June 2018 in Singapore which was an innovation lab where 1000 talents from more than 110 countries came together to build solutions aligned to the UN Sustainability Development Goals. He was a part of the “Quality Education” track and their team came up with an app that recommends parents of 3-5-year-olds experiential activities that they can do with their kids for their emotional and social development. The talents went through a facilitated process of innovation, uniquely tailored by UNLEASH and Deloitte. They formed teams to explore reallife challenges within the eight SDG themes; Food, Health, Education & ICT, Water, Energy, Urban Sustainability, Responsible Supply Chain and Consumption, and Climate Action. The themes were explored from multiple angles, before defining specific problems and developing preliminary solutions. These solution were tested with leading experts and company partners and refined. At the end of this rapid-fire innovation process, each team of talents had a draft SDG solution, implementation plan, and presentation – making them ready for their pitches. On June 5, all teams presented their solutions. On the final day of UNLEASH, the Closing Ceremony took place. All talents and UNLEASH partners came together, and innovators and thought leaders celebrated their work. Five winners were picked to receive special awards and to pitch in front of all attendees. Attendees experienced talks by the President of Singapore, Mdm Halimah Yacob, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, José Ramos-Horta, UNDP Innovation Champion and robot, Sophia, actor and UNESCO Special Envoy, Forest Whitaker, and CEO of DBS Bank, Piyush Gupta.
ALUMNI
CHANGEMAKERS
11
STORIES FROM THE WORLD
“Thank you Italy for taking care of our daughter (Niece)” By Mrs Neetu Dhill, Aunt of Nancy Beniwal, Indian Student Abroad 2017-18 “This was Nancy’s first visit abroad. She got this opportunity through AFS Intercultural Programs India, for the study abroad cultural exchange program. In Italy she studied at Roseto, her accommodation was arranged in Alba Adriatica also known as one of the seven sisters of the northern region (Abruzzo coast). Nancy is very lucky to have travelled all the way and gained such a rich experience. AFS Italy warmly welcomed all the students. To her amazement, it was a mesmerizing get together to meet students from all over the world. Each one shared, danced and represented their country during the camps. The knowledge & tasks provided in these camps were quite interesting and unforgettable, followed by much awaited moment of meeting her host family, where she would stay for a year. They welcomed Nancy with a big hug and called her their third daughter. The love and bonding which she received from them was exclusively beautiful. Each day, each moment was full of happiness and blessings. They taught her to be wiser, adjustable, independent, stronger, & responsible. We thank God for gifting her with such a wonderful host family: Papa - Marco, Mumma - Antonella, Sisters- Lara and Arianna who took great care of her. Besides them, Nancy came across her schoolmates who behaved as strangers at first but gradually their frowns 12
Photo Above: During her stay in Italy turned into smiles and best wishes. No wonder, Nancy’s cheerfulness made her everyone’s favorite. Nearly fifteen subjects she had to study that too in Italian. Almost all the teachers and students only conversed in Italian. Hardly anybody understood English. Nancy showed her smartness in going through the Rosetta Stone Program again thoroughly learning basics of Italian and started attending evening Italian classes making her fluent day by day. Within a month she was fully confident, it seemed as if she lived in Italy for years. She started discovering more about the culture there. The people were very polite and kind. The Italian buses were designed in a special manner in which even the old people, special people and kids prams could slide in easily. It feels like even we have lived in Italy through Nancy. he was thrilled to enjoy the beaches and the sea food for S the first time in her life. There was a faith and positivity created in her basically by her School Principal, Neera Ma’am and her respected team of RKK teachers. We honor them and send our best wishes to them. Last but not the least, before starting her unknown and unexpected journey to Italy, Nancy underwent orientation program conducted by AFS India, by Sir Nikhil Bhatnagar along with his team, who inculcated in her confidence, boldness and guided her for her best of future. We, family members of Nancy Beniwal, are grateful and would like to thank all of you for making this happen. It will always be cherished. Thanking you all.”
Save Environment By Shilpa Tanna, Volunteer from Gandhinagar Chapter “In collaboration with Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation, AFS Gandhinagar chapter volunteers planted trees during ’Save Environment’ program held on 28th, Saturday. In all 20 trees were planted by the team. Officers from Municipal Corporation and Forest Department led the campaign successfully. Ippo from Japan and Kaan from Turkey [AFS Hosted Students] were also a part and planted trees. They pledged to look after the plants and save environment. Mr. Chaudhary from forest department welcomed both of them to India and blessed and wished them for their healthy and comfortable stay in India.” Photo Left: Planting Trees
Dr. Parekh being awarded by the Secretary of Gujarat Government
Gujarat Government Mr. Sanjivkumar for anchoring in vivid activities and functions organized by the Gujarat State Government. She has persistently and dedicatedly served as an anchor since last twenty years. Her noteworthy and successful stride was acknowledged and appreciated by the government, school and chapter.”
Pride Of AFS Gandhinagar Chapter By Sneha Patel, Volunteer from Gandhinagar Chapter “AFS Gandhinagar Chapter President Dr. Varsha Parekh, who is also an assistant teacher of M B Patel English Medium Secondary and Higher Secondary School, was honoured with an award on 15 August, 2018 by the Secretary of
VOLUNTEER STORIES
13
INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER EXCHANGE PROGRAM
International Volunteer Exchange Program to Czech Republic With the aim of developing intercultural friendship, explore culture and creating better bonds between the countries, International Volunteer Exchange Program to Czech Republic took place between 12th to 26th May 2018. A group of six volunteers from Mumbai and Pune participated in the same. We appreciate AFS Czech Republic for being a great host.
“
The program helped me rediscover myself. Learning to adapt to new settings and lifestyles has helped me deal with my perceptions and apprehension about other culture and become more understanding. The exchange helped drive a fact home that lot of what people do has a lot to do with where they come from. Underneath every nature or habit is an underlying truth which has come far through many years so it’s not easy to throw away old habits and learn new ones. - Indian Participant
“
Photo Above: Kids trying Indian Food (Gol Gappa) The program was both an eye opener about the culture as well as building bonds between two diverse cultures for me. All my ICL learning helped me interact and accept both varied and differing aspects of the culture during my stay and helped better my experience. This exchange also helped us as the Indian group also bond and know each other better. There should be exchanges between Czech and India as there would be much diversities to learn from in their cultures which one should experience by living it! Thanking AFS for yet another wonderful time of learning. - Indian Participant Time in Czech Republic with new friends
14
“ “ “
Photo Above: In Indian Traditional Dress
“
This experience opened my mind to a new way to view the world and help others see the world the way you experience it. Build bridges across cultures by creating friendships that will last a lifetime. Found the ways to connect with people from other cultures and backgrounds. Discovered new things about myself and my place in the world. I learnt how to turn challenging situations into valuable opportunities to grow and become more mature.
Photo Above: Enjoying food with new friends Every single day is different from another and that’s an AFS experience. I look forward to all kinds of experiences as AFS taught us ‘Nothing is good or bad, it is just different.’ I’m glad to feel the difference. I’m discovering new unexpected things every day, and it’s a learning experience. I enjoyed going through the experience and feel the differences or similarities between cultures overall. It was really very nice experience of becoming part of Czech family and enjoy the country and culture. Thanks to AFS India for giving us this wonderful opportunity.
- Indian Participant Amidst everything we experience, I realized and felt that human nature is quite same in core. Though they are blessed with many facilities, so we think that their life is very easy, but all the citizens are playing big role to maintain that and apart from that, the ups and downs of life, happiness-sorrows are same everywhere worldwide.
“
- Indian Participant The most special moment was the time spent at home with the families of our friends. The talks we had understanding different things and viewpoints. And it was great that in few days we got a chance to stay together, all 6 of us, further fostering our bonds. The Czech visit was amazing because we went as a part of the AFS family which is a breed apart. I have come back richer, having experienced another culture, so similar yet different than ours. It’s also a country which is great place to go for student exchange, especially if you take efforts to learn the language. All I can say is a heartfelt Dêkuji (thank you) to Lucié, Jana and Marcela for making our visit so memorable. Thanks all to Stania, Edita and Petra for their part in our stay.
- Indian Participant
What touched me personally more deeply was the efforts of our sisters to make our exchange memorable and bond which we were able to create. Edita, my host sister is a language teacher and we exchanged many ideas about language teaching since we are in the same field. We spoke for long hours about life in general. With Petra and Stania, the bond is equally strong. We now have a home in Czech Republic and a lifelong relation with our EVA sisters. . At the end, I just wish to mention: The world is beautiful and everyone must take an opportunity to explore this world, but I will always prefer to explore the world through exchange programs as this is all about people who make this world a beautiful place! A big thank you to AFS for this opportunity not only for this EVA exchange program but for being part of my little world since 2010!! - Indian Participant
INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER EXCHANGE PROGRAM
- Indian Participant 15
AFS Mission AFS Intercultural Programs 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 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 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.
Edited & Designed by Aadil F. For any suggestions, or sharing stories or experiences, please write at aadil.fahim@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.com/afsindia youtube.com/afsindiaofficial afsindiablog.wordpress.com/ twitter.com/IndiaAFS instagram.com/afs_india/
AFS Intercultural Programs India Anand Bhawan, 12, Hailey Road, New Delhi - 110001 Office:+91-11-42512498/41501672/41540827 www.india.afs.org | india@afs.org