AFS Brings Together World Leaders on Global Citizenship Education

On November 8, 2014, AFS Intercultural Programs, under the patronage of UNESCO, will host an international high­­–level symposium Learning to Live Together—from Ideas to Action: AFS Global Intercultural Education Symposium for more than 1,000 attendees of all ages and the 100 Years Young! AFS Youth Symposium for 300 young people and others interested in the youth perspective. Speakers at both symposiums will define the complex challenges and identify the most viable solutions to advance the global citizenship education movement.

Through the symposiums, AFS will stimulate new conversations on the importance of developing global citizens who can work across cultural differences to create a more just and peaceful world. Young thought leaders will engage global luminaries in peace-building and education to explore specific actions that learning to live together requires, while questioning who sets the agenda for educating global citizens and what values should prevail in this process.

“We are honored to celebrate the100th anniversary of AFS with leaders of the Global Citizenship Movement such as Jacques Delors and Óscar Arias,” stated Melissa Liles, Chief Education Officer of AFS Intercultural Programs. “Our mission is to drive the global citizenship education movement to reach and cultivate partners, advocates, influencers, thought leaders and potential global citizens—young and old—especially those living or working in areas of great turmoil.”

Confirmed speakers for the Learning to Live Together—from Ideas to Action include:

• Óscar Arias, Nobel peace prize laureate and former President of Costa Rica (1986-1990, 2006-2010).
• Chernor Bah, youth representative on the High-Level Steering committee for the UN Secretary General’s Global Education First Initiative and Chairperson of the Youth Advocacy Group.
• Getachew Engida, Deputy Director-General of UNESCO.
• Vigdis Finnbogadóttir: Former President of Iceland (1980-1996). First woman in the world to be democratically elected as a constitutional Head of State.
• Andreas Schleicher, head of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) at the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

The 100 Years Young! AFS Youth Symposium will feature young global citizens from around the world who will discuss and debate the best ways we can learn to live together. The event is free and open to everyone who wants to meet the future leaders of global citizenship education and intercultural learning. The insights and recommendations presented at the AFS Youth and AFS Global Intercultural Education Symposiums will be informed by a series of webinars, online forums and a two-day in-person workshop in Paris sponsored by AFS and attended by more than 100 participants (30 years old and under) representing more than 39 countries. Like UNESCO, AFS believes that young people are critical partners, stakeholders and catalysts for positive change in the global citizen education movement.

The theme of the conference was inspired by Jacques Delors, former three-time President of the European Commission and Chairperson of the UNESCO Commission on Education for the Twenty-first Century and his challenge that we “learn to live together by developing an understanding of others.” Jacques Delors is expected to attend the event. 

Learning to Live Together—from Ideas to Action | AFS Global Intercultural Education Symposium

8 November 2014 | Registration 13:00; Program 14:00 to 17:00 

UNESCO Headquarters, Room I in Paris, France

100 Years Young! | AFS Youth Symposium

8 November 2014 | Registration 9:30; Program 10:00 to 12:00 

UNESCO Headquarters, Room I in Paris, France

About AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.

AFS Intercultural Programs is an international non-profit volunteer-driven educational organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to 12,500 participants per year. AFS programs in 103 countries help students and adults develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to create a more just and peaceful world. With offices and member organizations across five continents, AFS programs provide real-life intercultural experiential learning through student and cultural international exchanges and volunteerism, supported by workshops and structured reflection. AFS relies on a global network of 43,000 AFS volunteers.

The Learning to Live Together—from Ideas to Action | AFS Global Intercultural Education Symposium and the 100 Years Young! | AFS Youth Symposium are hosted by AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. with the support of AFS Vivre Sans Frontières (VSF). AFS VSF is Paris-based nonprofit organization that has been offering international student exchange and intercultural education programs for more than 65 years.

BP is the corporate sponsor of the AFS Global Intercultural Education Symposium.

The AFS Global Intercultural Symposium and the AFS Youth Symposium have been certified by the Mission Centenaire, a French national initiative that promotes national and local events related to World War I Centennial Commemorations, as one of the most innovative and structured Centennial projects taking place in France.