The Cultural Volunteers module of FAWCO's Youth Program is designed to foster cultural awareness and volunteerism among FAWCO youths. FAWCO teens aged 15 - 18 will be hosted by FAWCO families for a week, and will experience a new culture while volunteering with local charities, working side-by-side with local teens. As part of the program, the participants will create a video about their experiences, and write individual essays reflecting on what they learn. Participants will be able to receive community service credits required by their International Baccalaureate program.
Here are just a few excerpts from reflections by our Youth Cultural Volunteers in 2013 and 2014:
"I made new friends in the UAE --- Emirati teens, who helped us learn more about their culture. Believe me, we may dress differently and practice different religions, but teenagers around the world are pretty much the same --- we're all goofy, curious, and hoping our generation can improve life for all of us."
"In the end, what matters is that you have raised your personal awareness of poverty. And maybe it would have inspired you by then to grab the initiative and take part in a bigger project."
"It was nice to be able to go outside the tourist destinations and contribute to the lives of others who may not have the same luxuries as we do back in our own countries."
"[It was] a wonderful group of people. . . These friendships will last a lifetime. . . I am proud of what I feel I have accomplished with the group, and look forward to hearing about FAWCO Youth’s continued development."
The pilot Cultural Volunteers Program was held in Dubai in July 2013, hosted by AWA Dubai.
The 2014 Cultural Volunteers Program was held in Shanghai in July 2014, hosted by AWC Shanghai.
The 2015 Cultural Volunteers Program was held in Mumbai in August 2015, hosted by AWC Mumbai.
Please contact for more information.
Click to see videos prepared by the Youth Cultural Volunteers for Dubai 2013, Shanghai 2014 and Mumbai 2015.
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The Cultural Volunteers module of FAWCO's Youth Program is designed to foster cultural awareness and volunteerism among FAWCO youths. FAWCO teens (in high school, aged 15–19) are hosted by FAWCO families for a week, and will experience a new culture while volunteering with local charities.
The participants will deliver a Group Project (usually a video or presentation) about their experiences,
The Cultural Volunteers Program was held in Edinburgh and the Scottish Highlands, June 28–July 7, 2024, hosted by the American Women’s Club of Central Scotland and chaired by Amanda Drollinger.
There were 12 participants (six girls, six boys), ages 13–17, from Berlin, Heidelberg, Hamburg, Torino, AWG-Paris, Languedoc-Roussillon, Stockholm, Dublin, Central Scotland and FAUSA.
The program ran 9 days, which was longer than our usual 7 days. This was because there were 5 days in the Highlands, arrival and departure days, leaving the teens 2 days in Edinburgh.
They received community service hours for the following:
The participants reflected on their experience through a video and individual essays: Cultural Volunteers: Scotland 2024 – In Their Own Words (you must be logged in to view this content).
The Cultural Volunteers Program was held in Zürich, Switzerland, April 8–15, 2023, hosted by the American Women’s Club of Zürich.
During the one-week itinerary, 12 Cultural Volunteers (CVs) from nine clubs (FAWCO Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 8) and FAUSA who spoke 11 languages (Indonesian, Chinese, Hindi, Swedish, Finnish, Italian, French, Spanish, Dutch, German and English) stayed with local host families and immersed themselves in a variety of enriching activities designed to provide insights into important Swiss culture while offering them opportunities to give back to the local community… all while making new friends and having a ton of fun.
The youth completed 14 hours of community service with the following volunteering activities: sorting toiletries for FIZ (club charity), trash pick-up – Uetliberg panorama hike, farm work at a traditional Swiss farm, Tischlein deck dich (food bank), and sorting books and arts and crafts supplies for the children’s library at the AWCZ Clubhouse.
Their cultural activities included a Zürich walking/history Tour, Lindt chocolate factory tour, Schlafen im Stroh (Sleeping in the Straw), Zürich Opera House tour and workshop, REGA (air medical service) tour, and a United Nations tour in Geneva. They also enjoyed a picnic at the lake, cooking and dinners at the clubhouse, a scavenger hunt and many other team-building activities.
The participants reflected on their experience through a group video and individual essays. Click here to read their peronsal essays and to watch the video. (You must be logged in.)
12 FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers hosted in Athens by AWO Greece
By Stacey Harris-Papaioannou
Teens from 14 to 17 years old came to Athens from October 16th to 23rd to get a taste of Greek culture and volunteering through the American Women's Organization of Greece (AWOG). The teens were hosted by local FAWCO Chair Georgia Kallis, AWOG Treasurer Stacey Harris-Papaioannou, and Danielle Termote, a Cultural Volunteer Alumna and volunteer from AWC Amsterdam, staying in an AirBnB down the street from Stacey.
The students hailed from 10 FAWCO clubs and live in England, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and France. The youth put in hours at a Caritas soup kitchen serving meals and sorting clothing, helping with AWOG’s heart pillow stuffing, visiting the Sea Turtle rescue center in Glyfada and getting a hands-on experience at Pame Mmazi, the art therapy program for cancer patients at Agoi Anargyri Hospital in Kifissia. The group also visited Merimna center for unaccompanied refugee boys in Exharxia and had the opportunity to interact with some of the 29 boys, ages 12 to 17, currently housed there.
They visited the Acropolis, Sounion, Lake Vouliagmeni, the Niarchou Center, Monastiraki and Syntagma — the A list of attractions for Athens. You can watch a highlight video, produced by the youths themselves on the In Their Own Words page. The participants reflection essays are also shared there. (you must be logged in).
The FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers (YCV) Program flourished in its fourth year as seven of our YC Volunteers travelled to Dublin for a week in June. They were hosted by AWC Dublin members and were joined by Carson and Ian, two local youth volunteers. The enthusiastic feedback described the week as "wonderful" and an “unforgettable experience."
The teens between the ages of 13-17 representing FAWCO were from AIWC Cologne, IWC Torino, AWC Hamburg and AWC Berlin. Thanks to the organization and energy of the Dublin Club President Rheagan Coffey and her capable team, the group enjoyed a fun week that included both sightseeing and volunteering.
The program including both sightseeing in Dublin and real hands-on volunteering. The group cleared out the gardens of two local residents and both enjoyed working together as a team and they were very proud with their efforts! All of the CVs recognized the satisfaction of seeing how one’s work can make someone else happy.
Laura Wilhelm (AIWCC) summed up her observations beautifully:
"The Cultural Volunteers trip was definitely eye-opening. It allowed me to meet many new people and to learn and experience new, interesting things. I got to spend time with some amazing people and had a lot of fun. With friends, both garden work and exploring a new city were suddenly much more fun! This experience is one I will remember and treasure."
Read all of the participants' reflections on their experiences, In Their Own Words. You must be logged in to view this content.
The 3rd FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers Program took place in Mumbai, India from August 22-29, 2015 and was a huge success! Many thanks to the AWC Mumbai for their hospitality and generosity. AWC Mumbai’s Club President Meenakshi Advani and her team put together a full program and these teens came away full of praise: “Life-changing!” “Amazing” “Wonderful Memories” and they all agreed they made friends for life!
Fifteen teens from seven countries travelled to Mumbai August 22-29 and were hosted by the local club.
The group was treated to a mix of culture and charity. They visited the Foundation for Mother and Child Health (FMCH), an NGO providing preventive health and balanced nutrition in underprivileged communities, VOICE, an organization that helps street children, the MANN Center for Individuals with Special Needs, and URJA, a shelter for homeless young girls.
The tours included watching the Dabawallas work, the Mumbai Heritage Walk, a visit to the Ghandi Museum, a trip to the American School of Bombay, a yoga lesson and Bollywood dancing and lots and lots of fun!
Read all of the participants' reflections on their experiences, In Their Own Words.
The 2014 FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers Program took place in Shanghai July 18-27, 2014. Many thanks to the AWC Shanghai for their generosity and willingness to set up this year's program!
Fourteen teens from 8 different countries travelled to Shanghai in July, where they were hosted by the AWC Shanghai. (The list of Shanghai participants is here.) The teens were treated to a mix of cultural activities and volunteering opportunities. They visited Shining Star Orphanage for Blind Children, where Chinese orphans learn English to improve their chances of being adopted into English-speaking homes; the Renewal Center for Homeless Migrants in Shanghai, where volunteers assist homeless people coming in off the streets for a shower, a change of clothes, and something to eat; the YouDao Center for Migrant Children, where the Cultural Volunteers spent time with migrant children; and Heart to Heart Shanghai, a non-profit community outreach organization that supports children undergoing heart surgery. The cultural outings included a tour of the city, sightseeing in the Yuyuan Garden and Confucian Temple, shopping in Shanghai's markets, tours of the Qibao ancient town, and a Shanghai Acrobatic Show.
The pilot project for the Cultural Volunteers module hosted by AWA Dubai was a week-long program (July 16-23, 2013) attended by seven FAWCO teens from Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The teens were hosted in AWA Dubai members' homes and had the opportunity to do hands-on volunteering in three local charities. Participants received community service credits for their IB program. The program included cultural learning about the UAE and Ramadan, as well as experiencing the sights and sounds of a new country.
