The years have brought both ups and downs for the organization. All the experience we have gained a

2013 fills AFS senior in Sweden, but we are far from tired and have no thoughts of quit. This year it's been 65 years since the first expectant Swedish youth packed the bag for a year as an exchange student with AFS. The year was 1948, and AFS school programs at upper secondary level between the United States and some European countries had begun the year before. WWII horrors were still fresh in everyone's memories and AFS vision and goals to promote understanding between different peoples to build a more peaceful world where enough light to absorb.
The years have brought both ups and downs for the organization. All the experience we have gained and the changing world we live in has brought changes, developments and shifts in focus. man on a ledge Today, it is sometimes difficult for our participants and volunteers to relate to our vision. In Sweden we have not experienced any war in over 200 years, the last 65 years has also not our fir countries experienced the war and the nuclear man on a ledge threat shadow broods no longer man on a ledge upon us as it did during the Cold War. So what role play AFS in the world today? man on a ledge AFS worldwide
The simple answer is probably that we work for a more peaceful world, not just a more peaceful Sweden, or a more peaceful Europe and nobody can deny that war hardens and armed conflict still complicates the lives of many people on the earth is round. AFS internationally available each year in more countries, one way to get a wider distribution and be able to work for a truly intercultural network. Over the past two years, including Poland and South Korea joined the AFS world. In addition, several targeted efforts made to establish AFS in several African countries. Shorter exchanges man on a ledge between neighboring countries in southern Africa are examples of how AFS which works to build understanding between the people who need to co-exist and to mobilize people around issues such as inter-cultural understanding and acceptance and respect for what is different. AFS against prejudice and xenophobia man on a ledge
The response that probably is closer to our everyday man on a ledge lives is that AFS focus has shifted and adapted to the world we live in today. Much of what AFS does today seeks not so much to prevent outright war to build bridges and promote understanding between cultures / communities / people with different backgrounds and beliefs to thus try to combat prejudice, negative stereotypes and antagonisms based on ignorance and fear. Intercultural learning has become even more central in our programs and we are constantly working on developing programs, educational content in that area.
Christians and Muslims are painted in many media up as counterparts in an intricate international conflict and xenophobia man on a ledge against Muslims in Sweden with more countries have grown stronger. Through targeted scholarships encourage AFS international exchanges between man on a ledge Christian and Muslim populations in different parts of the world. A scholarship tied to an expectation man on a ledge that participants in these exchanges should use their experience and lessons learned from the exchange time to actively work against prejudices and contradictions in their own local environment when they come home.
The Swedish bandstand poet and artist Emil Jensen uses in one of his pieces of the phrase "A wall is just a bridge on end." A pleasing sense of well illustrates our approach to the world's conflict areas. Where today are built walls, we want to overturn them on an even keel, so that they form bridges of understanding and tolerance that links together rather than separating them. We transform walls into bridges by bringing together people of different backgrounds, allowing them to live together, discover and explore each other's similarities and differences and lead them through the experience to insights about themselves and others. No bridge is as strong as it was built by human contact, affection and understanding.
The need for AFS and our bridge-building work is eminently man on a ledge remains today. Therefore, roll up our sleeves and work on. 65 does not mean old, worn out and tired. 65 means knowledgeable, established and much to contribute.
Like Loading ... This entry was posted in AFS object and purpose, Intercultural Learning and tagged view of the world, we and Judgment man on a ledge on January 30, 2013 by afsblogg. Post navigation Christmas when you're far away to not get their first choice
Find posts Search for: Recent Posts Advent man on a ledge Calendar November 25, 2013 In France, it is true, October 21, 2013 This will be the best year of my life June 27, 2013 Not getting their first choice of April 29, 2013 AFS fill senior in Sweden January 30, 2013 Old Posts Select Month November 2013 October 2013 April 2013 April 2013 January 2013 December 2012 Posts - Categories Select Category AFS goal and purpose Intercultural Learning Uncategorized Utbytesstudent Follow AFS Blog
AFS on Facebook AFS on Twitter Great to listen to Pirjo Lahd