11/27/2006 - Fall seminar with over 125 volunteers
AFS Norway’s Fall seminar was held at the end of October. This seminar is held every year, and this time over 125 volunteers found their way to the Red Cross Centre at Eidene, close to Oslo.
As expected the seminar was a great gathering for new and experienced volunteers. The seminar consisted of over 25 workshops. The topics included e.g. how to edit chapter web-pages, host family recuitment, icebreakers, communication, media work, GL volunteer access training, conflict management, first aid and also how to create an environment that is open to volunteers and participants with different backgrounds, especially immigrants.
International guests
The workshops held by our international guests were among the most popular. We had visitors from Finland, Egypt and Brazil for the seminar.
Hoda Mahmoud, Program Director in AFS Egypt, talked about AFS in an arabic perspective. We got a taste of the diversity in the Arab world and especially Egypt. Renate Espeland, returnee from Egypt, was present during the workshop and got a big surprise. Hoda brought a video message from Renates hostmother – a touching and wonderful description about her hosting experience.
Intercultural learning
Anni Siltanen, AFS FIN staff, came with two volunteers to give workshops about hostfamily finding. AFS FIN is known for always meeting the 3-week deadline and they had a lot of tips for the Norwegian chapters.
Volunteer development coordinator of AFS BRA, Angela Rosa Serafim, came to Norway to speak about intercultural learning. She gave two workshops, one for experienced volunteers and one for the new on this important subject.
AFS Norway wants to send a big thank you to our international guests and all the volunteers that contibuted to a wonderful seminar.
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