FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Spain
Address
C/ Augusto Figueroa, 3 - 5ºCountry
City
MadridProvince
MadridMobile Phone
+34673829759Telephone
0034915234595E-Mail (2)
sandra.lois@afs.orgWebsite
Click HereYear of Establishment
1966Contact Person1
Sandra LoisJob Title 1
Partner DirectorContact Person 2
Ramón MarcoJob Title 2
Partner ChairOrganisation Type
Non-Governmental OrganizationFields of Activity
International/Cultural relations, Others, Youth and educationGeneral Information
AFS (American Field Service) is an international volunteer organization founded in 1914 by a group of civilian volunteers who carried out humanitarian work during World War I and World War II. In Spain, AFS Intercultura is a volunteer-based organization that worksthrough local structures to the implementation of its activities. There are currently 13 local structures.
The General Assembly is the highest governing body of the Association, composed of the Board of Directors and volunteers from the organization. It also has a technical team made up of 12 people distributed amongthe different areas of the organization.
AFS Intercultura España is part of AFS Intercultural Programs, whose headquarters are located in New York, United States. This international network has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN. AFS Intercultura is also a founding member of the European Federation for Intercultural Learning (EFIL), which brings together the 28 AFS entities in various European countries, as well as Egypt, Tunisia, and Turkey. Based in Brussels, EFIL collaborates with the European Union on intercultural education programs and has consultative status with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Council of Europe. It is also a member of the European Youth Forum, an international organization created by national youth councils and youth non-governmental organizations to represent the interests of young people in Europe.
In Spain, AFS is also a member of the Spanish Youth Council and is recognized by INJUVE (Youth Institute of the Ministry of Health, Consumer Affairs, and Social Welfare) as a provider of services to youth.
AFS Intercultura Spain promotes inclusion and therefore offers an annual call for diversity scholarships for annual mobility programs. Participants who receive these scholarships enjoy a reduction in the price of the program of between 50% and 90%. In this way, young people from all social and economic backgrounds can live an intercultural experience in another country. In addition, we offer 100% scholarships for trimester programs, available exclusively to students from schools that are part of the AFS Community of Global Centers.
AFS is an international non-profit association that offers intercultural learning opportunities to more than 12,000 participants each year around the world. With a presence in 98 countries and 60 offices on five continents, AFS offers cultural immersion experiences through exchanges and volunteer programs, supported by structured workshops and reflections.
AFS aims to prepare the leaders of the future, to develop global citizens and agents of change, equipping them with essential cross-cultural competencies for the 21st century. These competencies are essential to engage, lead and collaborate effectively in culturally diverse environments. Our cultural exchange, study and international volunteer programs are supported by research-based educational pathways and facilitated by AFS-trained volunteers and professionals.
The Global Center Community is an ongoing collaborative project between AFS Intercultura and several educational centers across the country. Through this agreement, AFS makes available to the educational communities free services that support the pedagogical work of the centers. At the same time, it enhances the capacity of these centers to address some of the most relevant challenges of our interconnected society, reinforcing the training of its members.
Cooperation with educational centers in the framework of the Erasmus+ Project: AFS Intercultura, as a leading entity in international mobility, has a long history of organizing mobility programs for young people in order to develop the skills needed to live in intercultural and respectful societies. The collaboration between schools and AFS Intercultura is key to guarantee the success of international mobility projects, ensuring that the process runs smoothly and generating a positive impact on both the young participants and the educational communities involved, both in the schools of origin and destination.
Mission and Objectives
The Association AFS Intercultura Spain is an educational, non-governmental, non-profit and non-political or religious entity, which provides services to youth and offers intercultural learning opportunities.
The main beneficiaries of the activities organized by the Association, in accordance with the purposes set out in Article 4 of these statutes, are young people.
The objectives of the Association are the following
a) To promote greater intercultural understanding, highlighting the distinctive characteristics of other cultures and one's own, as an essential means of achieving peace and global harmony.
b) To facilitate knowledge and communication skills, as well as the customs and values that enable people to live and work effectively in diverse cultural environments.
c) To uphold the values of respect, equity, justice, diversity and critical thinking as fundamental principles for a just and peaceful coexistence, both locally and internationally.
d) To encourage the participation of young people with fewer resources in the activities of the Association, promoting an approach based on equality and non-discrimination.
e) Promote any other action related to the development of intercultural learning opportunities that benefit both young people and society in general.
To achieve these goals, the Association AFS Intercultura Spain may carry out activities in the following areas:
(a) Promotion and organization of educational programs and intercultural coexistence, both nationally and internationally.
b) Promotion of volunteerism, supporting their participation in the associative structures.
(c) Promotion of the values of coexistence and diversity among young people, involving educators, teachers, educational centers and society as a whole.
d) Obtaining funds that favor socioeconomic diversity among the beneficiaries of the Association's activities.
e) Elaboration and dissemination of educational materials related to interculturality and youth.
f) Training in interculturality, global education, coexistence and diversity, especially aimed at young people, teachers and educators, in line with the values and mission of the organization.
Main Projects / Activities
AFS offers a variety of programs and opportunities:
- Host Family Hosting Program: Each year, more than 100 students from around the world come to our country with the desire and motivation to learn about new ways of life through cultural immersion. This experience would not be possible without the generosity and willingness of AFS host families.
- Intercultural learning program with mobility abroad: We offer international programs in more than 30 countries, spread across five continents, with different durations, so that participants can immerse themselves in new cultures and enrich their global perspective.
- Local volunteering: Volunteering is the foundation of the AFS network. Each volunteer contributes his or her time and dedication to creating a more just and peaceful world through intercultural understanding. Volunteers accompany students, families and schools before, during and after intercultural experiences. Volunteering with AFS is a way to become an agent of change. Volunteers develop key competencies such as leadership, teamwork, interpersonal communication, organization, planning, flexibility, learning skills, negotiation, initiative and autonomy. In addition, AFS promotes international training opportunities for its volunteer network.
- Global Center Community: Intercultural learning opportunities both in and out of the classroom. A global center is an educational institution committed to the integral formation of its students, preparing them to face the challenges of an interconnected and changing world. AFS offers these centers workshops and trainings, 100% scholarships for quarterly student programs, faculty scholarships, international projects, classroom exchanges and other enriching opportunities.
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
AFS Intercultura is a leading international education and intercultural learning organization with more than 100 years of experience. It is part of a network of more than 500,000 alumni, more than 30,000 volunteers, 12,000 participants per year, more than 1,000 employees, more than 55 partner organizations.
We have a specific and well-researched definition of Active Global Citizenship: people who value and belong to a common and diverse world; critically inquire about the world beyond immediate surroundings; understand and relate to others across differences; and act for collective well-being.
We develop Active Global Citizens through 4 pillars of work: programs, educational initiatives, volunteerism and advocacy efforts. This includes our students, families, schools and educators, volunteers and staff. All this without losing the vision of AFS: is to ensure a more peaceful, just, equitable and sustainable future.
AFS Intercultura España could contribute to the network through several key avenues:
1. Promoting intercultural understanding: through its cultural exchange and mobility programs, AFS fosters understanding and peace between cultures, aligning with the Foundation's objectives.
2. Development of global citizenship: AFS prepares young people as global citizens with intercultural skills, supporting the Foundation's mission to promote cooperation and understanding between cultures.
Intercultural volunteering: AFS volunteers actively contribute to cultural integration and dialogue, which can reinforce the Foundation's projects in local communities.
4. Educational programs: AFS organizes workshops and trainings on interculturalism, coexistence and diversity, which can complement the Foundation's educational initiatives.
5. Inclusive action: With its diversity scholarships, AFS ensures the participation of young people from different backgrounds, supporting the Foundation's mission of ensuring equal opportunities for all.
In summary, AFS could bring to the Anna Lindh Foundation its expertise in intercultural educational programs, youth leadership development and its volunteer network, thus enhancing intercultural dialogue and cooperation in both organizations.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
Because we share a common commitment to promote intercultural understanding, peace and coexistence among cultures. Through our educational and mobility programs, AFS works to build global citizens capable of leading and collaborating effectively in a diverse and connected world. We believe that by joining this network we will be able to strengthen our initiatives, expand our impact and collaborate with organizations across the Mediterranean and Europe to address global challenges and foster intercultural dialogue. Our mission to promote values of respect, equity and diversity perfectly complements the Foundation's objectives, and we are convinced that together we can generate a deeper and lasting impact on society.
Additional Information
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