10/11/2005 - Torino World Congress Concludes Reaffirming AFS Values and Mission:
The AFS World Congress held in Torino, Italy concluded on September 23rd with the final plenary – Moving Ahead.
AFS President, Francisco Cazal addressed the AFS delegates reaffirming the Vision 2010 for AFS. The Vision Statement informs the actions of AFS until the end of the decade for the organization to become a leader in intercultural education; enable people to become global citizens and neighbors; embody diversity; bring people and organizations together and, contribute to society through voluntarism.
Mr. Cazal stated that for AFS to remain true to its vision statement, the organization needs to continue working towards obtaining more funding to provide AFS participants with scholarships, further develop its volunteer corps, expand into new countries, commit resources to more educational research regarding the benefits of the AFS experience, and explore new programs and activities. “We have an abiding commitment to maintaining and strengthening the work of AFS and to our effort to create a more just and peaceful world,” said Mr. Cazal, “We will need to maintain our emphasis on organizational growth and nurture our desire for greater accountability for all we do. Trust, communication and cooperation within our organization will help maintain AFS’s relevance and the continued success of its programs, today, and in the future.
The World Congress, which was celebrated along with Italy’s AFS Partner, Intercultura’s, 50th Anniversary Celebration, was enriched by events planned for, and in conjunction with the anniversary. On Wednesday, September 23 the Opening Dinner for the Congress was held at the Royal Palace in Torino. The dinner concluded with an award ceremony held in honor of the first ever AFS Student Essay Competition. The competition was designed to encourage AFS participants to submit essays written on the theme of “Peace Through Understanding.” Hundreds of essays were submitted and the three award winners; Silvia Gambino from Italy, Hart Ford-Hodges from the United States and Saraa Pihlman from Finland were presented with certificates for the best three essays.
On Saturday, September 26, AFS celebrated the International Day of Peace. The delegates to the World Congress were invited to attend the official ceremony of Intercultura’s 50th Anniversary at the Teatro Regio in Torino. The distinguished speakers, the Honorable Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor of Hiroshima and Ole Danbolt Mjøs, Chairman of the Nobel Peace Committee spoke to the audience on the keynote theme of “Peace Education Through Student Exchanges.” The closing ceremony was enhanced by the presence on stage of many AFS participants from all over the world who are spending their program year in Italy.
In closing, Francisco Cazal stated that “The keywords for AFS as we continue to move towards our Vision 2010 are: Trust, Synergy, Solidarity, Commitment, and Planning. We hope that we will celebrating the achievement of the goals so clearly stated in our Vision Statement and even more substantial achievements when we come together for our World Congress in 2010.”
In the photo: the Honorable Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor of Hiroshima and Tachi Cazal, President of AFS International
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