10/29/2007 - OCTOBER 29 PROCLAIMED AFS DAY IN NEW YORK CITY

PROCLAMATION COINCIDES WITH AFS 60TH ANNIVERSARY

October 29, 2007, New York, NY – Mayor Bloomberg proclaimed October 29 to be “AFS International Programs Day” in New York City. The proclamation coincided with the celebration of AFS Intercultural Programs 60th Anniversary and its World Congress, which opened yesterday in New York at the Roosevelt Hotel. The World Congress brings together the leadership of the more than 50 AFS organizations that are established around the globe.

“AFS intercultural exchange programs were born in New York, having a day for our organization in the City has special significance for us.” said Francisco Cazal, the president of AFS Intercultural Programs, “We hope that this will become a day in which we will not only pause to celebrate our accomplishments but in which we will renew our commitment to excellence in intercultural exchange programs for the youth of the world.”

Patrick Worms, a member of the Board of Trustees of AFS International said “We wish to thank Mayor Bloomberg for bestowing this honor on AFS. We are very grateful to have our contributions to the vibrant life of this city be recognized in this official proclamation.”

AFS began as the American Field Service in World Wars II and I when nearly 5,000 young men volunteered as ambulance drivers. In World War I they served in France and the Balkans and in World War II they served in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, India and Burma. After World War II, the drivers under the leadership of Stephen Galatti organized the first AFS secondary school student exchanges in 1947, after their historic meeting at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The exchanges were designed to build international understanding and peace through the contact of ordinary citizens.

Francisco Cazal announced the proclamation at the closing ceremony of the celebration of the 60th Anniversary of AFS. The theme of the closing ceremony was coined by two of the presenters that very afternoon. Jessica Kan an AFS returnee from Malaysia and Arthur Howe Jr. a former AFS President and ambulance driver. Both their presentations closed with a resounding, “The best is yet to come for AFS.”

About AFS

AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. (www.afs.org) is one of the world’s largest not-for-profit community-based volunteer organizations dedicated to building a more just and peaceful world through intercultural exchange. AFS has a network of 52 Partner organizations and runs programs in more than 50 countries involving over 13,000 students, young adults and teachers each year. Since 1947, more than 375,000 individuals and an equal number of host families have had the AFS experience. In addition, AFS has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.