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    Cultural Volunteers


    Sub Logos Youth Program

    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 2013Shanghai 2014 and Mumbai 2015.

     

    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...

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    FAWCO launched FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers in support of the UN’s initiative to engage today’s youth and raise their awareness of social issues and cultural diversity.
    The inaugural YCV Program in Dubai was hosted from July 16-23, 2013 by AWA Dubai families. Seven children of FAWCO club members between the ages of 15 and 17 traveled from The Netherlands, Ireland,

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    Sub Logos Youth Program

    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 PERSONAL ESSAYS (you must be logged in).

     



    Sub Logos Youth Program

    The American Women’s Club of Amsterdam successfully hosted the 2022 edition of the FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers Program from June 25 to July 2. This was an especially exciting event after two postponements due to the pandemic. During the one-week itinerary, 15 Cultural Volunteers (“CVs”), aged 15-18, hailed from 11 clubs and traveled from 11 different countries (Belgium, Denmark, Finland,  France, Germany, Italy, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, and the US), stayed with local host families and immersed themselves in a variety of enriching activities which were designed to provide insights into important global issues and Dutch culture while offering them opportunities to give back to the local community…all whilst making new friends and having a ton of fun.
     
    They volunteered at Plastic Whale Boat; Canal Clean-Up / deKloof Men’s Day Shelter; Cooking for the homeless / Speeltuin; rehabilitate children’s play area, and Social Housing sites, Amsterdam Noord; Gardening and Beautification. They also experienced first-hand accounts with a WWII Holocaust Survivor and refugees, and learned about human trafficking and sustainable fashion.
     
    The participants in the FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers 2022 Amsterdam reflected on their experience through the essays posted here. We invite you to read them here (you must be logged in).
     

    Below is the highlight video, produced by the youths themselves. 

     



    Sub Logos Youth Program

    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. 

    The participants in the FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers 2019 in Athens reflected on their experience through the essays posted here.  We invite you to read them here (you must be logged in).

    They visited the Acropolis, Sounion, Lake Vouliagmeni, the Niarchou Center, Monastiraki and Syntagma— the A list of attractions for Athens. Below is the highlight video, produced by the youths themselves. 

     

    Sub Logos Youth Program

    In June of 2018, AWC Berlin hosted the FAWCO Youth Cutural Volunteers Program. The purpose of the program is help the youth discover volunteering, develop their culture understanding, awareness of global issues, and sense of global citizenship. This years 12 participants came from AWC Amsterdam, AWC Berlin, AWC Bern, AWC Oslo, AWG Languedoc-Roussillon, AIWC Genoa, IWC Torino, and Munich IWC, represented 11 cultures and spoke 9 languages.
     
    Berlin Youth 2018 Wall
     
    This year’s group served refugees, homeless, disabled, and sick people living in Berlin through their volunteer work at multiple organizations. We are grateful for the opportunities arranged by: Berlin Stadtmission (through Serve the City), JackRonald McDonald HouseWelcome Baby BagsSt. Elisabethstift Seniorenheim, and Laib & Seele.
     
    The group also participated in many cultural and educational activities, including two walking tours, a museum visit, a “Youth in Democracy” caucus, and a cooking workshop at a Ulme35 (a refugee cultural integration center). One of the week’s stand-out experiences for the youth, as well as participating AWC members, was a session with 96-year old Holocaust survivor, Margot Friedlander. She told us her story of survival by reading excerpts from her book, “Try to Make Your Life,” and answering our questions. When asked why she does this at her age, she said “It is to make sure that you never let this happen again”.  She ended with a message of accepting and embracing human differences. As if this wasn’t enough, we managed to squeeze in several World Cup games, including a public viewing at the infamous Brandenburg Gate Fanmeile.
     
     
    From their reflection essays, the teens told us:
     
    "This week has made me realise how lucky I am, as a teenager, to be so
    privileged in the life I live. This feeling has given me the need to give back to the community and to those who are less privileged than I." - Kat, AWC Amsterdam
     
    "All these experiences taught me to respect other human beings and to try to do good
    things on this earth." Daniel, AWC Bern
     
    "In Berlin I was able to expand my awareness of global issues and also felt like I had power to do something about it...our group spent a lot of time talking about world issues." Natalie, AWC Amsterdam
     
    "The week in Berlin has been one of the most beatiful experiences of my life." Federico, AIWC Genoa
     
    "...this week was a first for me, a first volunteering and a first discovering so
    many cultures at once. This week permitted me to see things in a new light. I felt
    like I was part of something that was making a difference." Augustin, AWG Languedoc-Roussillon
     
    "This trip has taught me so much about the city, about the social issues, about myself....has inspired me to do more because I am fortunate enough to have the ability to do so. I want to thank the FAWCO Youth program for helping me find what makes me passionate and makes me strive to be better, not just for myself, but in hopes that one day I can do better for this world." Anna, AWC Berlin
     
    Login to access the Reflection Essays.
     

    Sub Logos Youth Program

     

    The FAWCO Youth Cultural Volunteers Program flourished in its fourth year as seven of our FY 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“.

    Dublin 2016 2

    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!

     

    MumbaiYouth2015

    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!  

    Watch Pascal Shrady's video of the group's experience:

     


     

    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… and, as this video shows, lots of fun.

    Shanghai 2014

    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. Click here to see the program video.

     

    Dubai 2013

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