Building bonds of friendship
ROHINI RAMAKRISHNAN
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American Field Service is all about learning beyond the classroom.
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It’s a new experience: Imbibing a different culture and meeting challenges.
Daniel from Venezuela walks into the room, comfortably attired in a silk dhoti . “It’s a wonderful experience,” he smiled describing his experience of wearing it, feeling the smooth silk between his fingers. Yes, this was what AFS (American Field Service) was all about — learning that went beyond the classroom, experiencing what textbooks, internet or films cannot teach you. This international programme now has 11,000 student exchanges a year.
Conducting an initiation programme for the school principals in Chennai on AFS, the power point presentation brought out the many diverse facets of this non-profit organisation that began in 1914. During the World Wars, soldiers aged between 17 and 18, to avoid fighting opted to work with the medical teams and help the wounded. The priority then was to promote peace. When the war was over, they kept their vow and thus AFS was born. In 1947 the exchange of students began with 52 students from 10 countries. Now much expanded, students can now go to 54 countries. There are programmes for teachers and an International Community Service Programme for adults over 18.
Selection
Tests and interviews are part of the selection process, and then the students wing their way to the country of their destiny to live with a host family for a year. They go to school, make friends, learn a new language and imbibe a new culture. What will they be taking back home was the question thrown to these students who were returning home: “One large backpack of friends” was one response while another said “I am taking a new me back home.” Many felt that they grew up a lot, especially as they had to face many challenges.
Interpersonal skills and in depth adaptation took place. There was also a greater understanding of world affairs, history and civilisation, as they had lived under another sky. They also received a different perspective of their own ethnic heritage. For example an Indian child who did not know to make chapatti or wear a sari, learnt it before she left. For, she had to share her culture with the people of her host country like she did theirs. And when they returned they have follow up programmes, especially to “reacclimatise” them.
And so here’s a door that opens to a larger view of the world and to discover a newer you.
www.afs.org, http://www.afs.org.in, India@afs.org
Or call 91-11-4350-1606
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