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A searchable database of over 200 International NGOs operating in China.
The material presented here was compliled mainly on the basis of information supplied (and / or published) by the organisations profiled. We have made every effort to ensure fairness and accuracy, but should make clear to readers that these are independent portraits, not 'authorised' biographies.
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AFS Intercultural Exchanges
Mission: "To provide intercultural learning opportunities to help people develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world"
In China since: 1983
Number of staff: 6 national and 0 expatriate
Mainland China contact:
Zhou Yan
Office director
Room 204 Yifu Center
160, Fuxingmennei Dajie
Beijing 100031
Tel: +86 (0)10 6641 6582
International Contact:
Tara Boyce-Hofmann
Director, AFS Hong Kong
香港湾仔皇后大道东182号
顺丰国际中心八楼
Tel: +852 2802 0383
Other Countries:
82 countries worldwide
Established in 1914 as the American Field Service（美国战地服务）this organisation was originally a corps of civilian volunteers who drove ambulances on the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars. Since 1947, AFS has worked to further the cause of international understanding and peace by promoting intercultural exchange programs for secondary school students and teachers, and volunteerism. It is now one of the oldest and largest international exchange organisations in the world, working through a network of AFS organizations in 52 countries and programme activity in another 30 countries.
In Hong Kong, a well-established programme arranges short term and year-long exchanges between high school students from the Special Administrative Region and 26 other countries. AFS HK also coordinates exchanges for teachers and school groups. Students and AFS volunteers also take part in community service activities ‘to develop commitment to the philosophy of volunteerism’.
In China, AFS has worked since 1983 in partnership with the
China Association for International Educational Exchange (CAIEE). Over the last 20 years, more than 1,200 Chinese high school teachers, from eleven provinces, have been placed in schools in a wide range of foreign countries, where they spend a year teaching alongside their international counterparts.
In 1997, an exchange programme for Chinese high school students was launched. In 2004 AFS expects to select 150 Chinese students to go abroad. They receive intensive language training in the country where they are placed, and spend a year living with local families and attending local schools. Starting in 1998, China also now hosts AFS students from other countries. Currently, around 30 students are studying in China under the programme, but numbers were low this year owing to SARS, but are expected to increase significantly in future.
The families of participating students usually contribute to the costs of international placements but, especially in the case of students from developing countries, AFS often provides scholarship support.
AFS’ operating funds come from placement fees and from private and corporate donors.
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