1/8/2008 - WORLDOSCOPE Project in Thailand

In the framework of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, AFS Thailand presents the multilateral project “WORLDOSCOPE: Strength Through Diversity”, coordinated by the European umbrella organisation EFIL (European Federation for Intercultural Learning).

AFS is an international, voluntary, non-governmental, non-profit organization that provides intercultural exchanges to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world. AFS is present in more than 50 countries all over the world.

The ‘WORLDOSCOPE” project unites 14 countries of the network in Africa, Asia and Europe. It provides 30 volunteers (20 – 30 years) with the chance to spend a three-week study tour in another country on a different continent in summer 2008 in order to discover intercultural and interreligious diversity.

During the study tour, the volunteers will have the opportunity to meet organisations active in the field of intercultural and interreligious dialogue as well as volunteers from AFS Thailand to discuss and exchange ideas on the topic of diversity in youth organisations.

AFS Thailand has selected three candidates who are going on their study tour in August: Phonchan Kraiwatnutsorn (30 years), Director of Youth Venture Thailand (www.iDREAMiDO.org), is leaving to Brussels/Belgium; Prad Klambanjong (22 years), AFS returnee to Nebraska USA currently a strong volunteers for many AFS projects, leaves for Dusseldorf/Germany and Karnnadda Senarak (21 years), a university student, a member of ABAC university debate club and also an AFS returnee to USA, is going to Budapest/Hungary.

In July, AFS Thailand hosts three volunteers from Europe; Oliver Hauser (20 years) from Austria, Annamaria Finizio (23 years) from Italy and Daniel Jara Fernandez (20 years) from Spain; as an exchange. Each of them will stay with three host families from three provinces; Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Ayuddhaya, visit various cultural sites, meet and interact with locals, local leaders, religious representatives and specialised personnel in various fields. This will allow them to discover cultural and religious diversity in Thailand.

All thirty participants of the project will gather at a closing seminar in Vienna/Austria in order to exchange their experiences and to start planning tailor-made follow up projects in their home countries. Each THA participant has committed herself/himself to implement at least two projects for increasing the diversity in the youth exchanges of AFS Thailand.

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