7/21/2005 - AFS Promotes Recruitment of a Diverse Participant Population
AFS International has recently completed its yearly round of Diversity Grant awards. The grants are awarded annually to AFS Partners throughout the world in a competitive application process designed to promote diversity among the students who participate in AFS programs. Our Partners submit applications which are selected on the basis of their bearing on AFS Vision Statement which says that:
“AFS will have a widely recognized presence all over the world. AFS will actively seek the participation of people throughout the organization reflecting diversity in all dimensions. AFS will work to ensure that qualified participants will be involved regardless of their financial means.”
This year’s selection committee is pleased to announce, on behalf of Tachi Cazal, the President of AFS International, the winners of the 2006 grant competition for the Diversity Grants:
Brazil to Malaysia
AFS Brazil will enhance cultural relations with Malaysia by promoting diversity as it reaches out to countries with a predominantly Muslim culture.
Ecuador to one of AFS Scandinavian or Northern Partners
To provide a full scholarship to a member of Ecuador’s’ indigenous community. The grant will also allow AFS in Ecuador to introduce the concept of intercultural and international learning as a possibility in local communities in which intercultural activities have been limited to interactions between Quechua and Spanish dominant communities.
France to Peru
To finance the stay of a motor disabled Peruvian student for a one-year program France. The grant will permit AFS in France to monitor the solutions applied in favor of such students in both countries’ school systems by sending a motor disabled French student to Peru for a short-term program.
Honduras to the United States
To send two young Honduran teachers to the U.S. on the Visiting Teachers Program, a program designed to enhance the skills of teaching professionals. AFS Honduras hopes to increase the participation rate of teachers (an under-represented group in their exchange population) and to positively impact the national education system and contribute to the growth and development of civil society.
The Philippines to Chile
To promote understanding between the Philippines and Chile and begin to enhance the archipielago’s cultural relations with South America, a continent with which they share a common cultural heritage.
Russia to Italy
To provide an opportunity to children who have suffered from acts of terrorism in Russia to participate in an AFS program and to educate young people regarding intercultural understanding. Intercultural understanding is a priority for AFS Russia and for AFS worldwide.
United Kingdom to South Africa
Provide two partial scholarships to students from an economically disadvantaged area in the UK in which racial intolerance is present. The scholarships will allow the participants to attend a high school in South Africa whose student population is 50% of Zulu origin and 50% of Indian origin. The two schools, in South Africa and in the UK, have developed educational modules around racial diversity and interdependency
United States
A diversity scholarship student will be chosen based on need to participate in an AFS program to one of AFS worldwide exchange destinations.
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