7/8/2005 - Volunteers Launch Projects in AFS Germany
AFS has over 30,000 active volunteers. All of our worldwide Partners are committed to the expansion of their volunteer capacity. Our emphasis on volunteerism represents an important contribution by AFS to the development of global leadership and civil society.
AFS in Germany (Interkulturelle Begegnungen e.v.) is well aware of the importance of its volunteers and has developed many programs that allow it to continue to build on its excellent volunteer base. AFS volunteers are an integral part of the organization and in Germany, they help mold the shape of the projects undertaken by its national chapters. The recently concluded Volunteer Forum is one example of this commitment.
The Forum, which is now in its second year of implementation at AFS Germany, is designed to give volunteers an opportunity to start projects that they think will benefit the organization. At these forums, all of the projects are discussed openly and in closed sessions in order to choose the winning proposals. The first forum, which took place last year, promoted a goal oriented working attitude among the volunteers through the introduction of a project management approach. Each project is led by a volunteer project leader and an AFS staff member.
There has been a shift in the emphasis for project development from working on recurring projects to groups that develop projects on a more flexible basis and which are established to fulfill a specific project task. Once the task is accomplished the project group is disbanded and its members are free to join other project groups and start work on the fulfillment of new goals and objectives.
Ines Rathmann, a team leader of staff and organizational development at AFS in Germany said that “this year’s forum was characterized by a very inspiring, constructive and open atmosphere. There cooperation between volunteers and AFS office staff was very fruitful and efficient.”
Among the projects that have been initiated through this effort are:
• A revision of the AFS selection handbook • A program for “Young Ambassadors” for Eastern Europe • Opportunities for new European Union funded programs • Exchange opportunities with Arabic countries. • Pilot projects for e-learning within AFS.
Congratulations to AFS in Germany for its ongoing efforts to involve its volunteers in the development of the national organization.
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