SI MONTHLY NEWS November 2006 Youth
From SI Exco News
Hello my dear friends. Here I’m presenting another great Servas youth member. A friend from Malawi is here to share with us her personal perspective. Malawi is one of the stronger and more dynamic groups in Africa. Don’t miss your chance to go to visit them and have a life time experience. This article and others are on the Servas Youth Website, www.servasyouth.org
Pablo Chufeni, Servas Youth International Coordinator
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN SERVAS MALAWI
It is a privilege for me to write you as the Servas International Coordinator. The first time I heard of Servas was from a couple friends of mine who introduced about what Servas is and how it works here in Malawi.
On 5th August 2002, I showed my interest to join our little group of Servas hosts and began to see X-pats in a different light, more as people than as “whites”. Servas is a peace organization that helps my understanding other's world culture by opening their hearts, mind and open doors.
Despite different languages in Servas we are all equal and Servas has a full spirit of experience which teaches us to love each other beyond world differences.
Having joined I have never travelled since becoming a host but I have enjoyed it because of the Local experience, sharing our experiences. Members have talked a lot about culture differences of our own as well as comparing other countries. Although I travelled our neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, here in Malawi we have plenty of those barriers of poor understanding between those living here. Servas helped me to break down my own barriers of misinformation and prejudice and I hope more with visitors coming to stay with me. I now have shared the interest with expert on equal footing of Servas Malawi. No matter what I have, what is important is who I am, what Servas travellers are interested in. In fact I am probably in a better position as visitors want to stay with me rather than an experienced host because I can give a real local stay life experience.
The elder host expects a young traveller to share the experience about travelling, culture differences backgrounds and learning about how both adult and young people live together and enjoy themselves.
Young travellers expect the host to offer them excellent and understanding hospitality, experience culture differences in the way of exchanging ideas for young Servas members and build peace and have an opportunity and obligation to inform a traveller on the best ways to undertake local visits, to explore natural and cultural destinations.
I am in Servas to explore culture differences backgrounds about other and experience the life of living experts and locals. Here in Africa we live far behind others so it very important for the youth to build up world peace. I am quite happy to understand the word Servas which has brought many happiness, peace and vision as a member, I am inspired how Servas works!!!
Mary Bolowera, Malawi
MALAWI
TIPS
1. Lovely weather
2. Beautiful highest mountain
3. Llovely lakes
4. Friendly people
5. Opportunity to learn Chichewa
6. Meeting new family friends
7. Socializing in sports activities
8. Nice fish called chambo
9. Walking freely etc
10. Nice food
SERVAS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH AND FAMILY EVENT
YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND ‘07
July 28th – August 4th 2007
Help needed
If you are a young person who would like to get involved in planning and running the event let us know:
Ann Greenhough or Pablo Chufeni dasher1949[at]aol.com pablochufeni[at] yahoo.com.ar
Servas International Youth Travel Award
This new Award will be available next year to help one young person come to the Yorkshire ’07 event. This will be someone who would otherwise not have the opportunity to travel to Britain. Applications will be accepted from Servas members worldwide (between ages of 18 and 25 at time of travel). More information will be available soon about how to apply and about the selection process. Look on the Servas Youth website for details or contact Ann Greenhough (see above).
Young Travellers to Britain
If you are a Servas traveller wanting to meet with other young Servas travellers and hosts when you come to Britain make contact with Laura Asher who is part of the 18-30 network in Servas Britain.
L.L.Asher[at]newcastle.ac.uk
Links with a Servas Britain host family
Servas Britain host families are keen to meet young travellers before and after the event in Yorkshire. If you are a young person coming to Britain for the first time let us know if you would like to be linked with a host family before you arrive. Some may be able to offer a longer stay and help you plan your time during your visit.
International Youth Camps in Britain
In the summer months there are many opportunities in Britain for young people (aged18-25) to join a work camp where they live and work with an international group of young people.
These camps, usually for 2 to 3 weeks are either on social or environmental projects. There is a small fee to take part otherwise food and accommodation are all provided. Contact us for more details or if you are interested in going on a camp with someone else who will also be coming to the event.
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