European Hosts Sought     by Catrina Walker 

One of the principles of Servas is that respect and care for the planet lays a foundation for a more peaceful world.One step toward this objective is to live in a more sustainable way, especially when it comes to how we obtain our food. Sustainable choices differgreatly throughout the world. US Servas traveler and author, Catrina Walker, is a permaculture professional dedicated to improving sustainable living and farming practices. In 2009 she spent extended time in Silly-la-Poterie in France where she documented a permaculture garden transformation and enjoyed the participation of students from a nearby agricultural school. 

This year Catrina will travel in the Netherlands. Germany, Italy, and France from late May through June 2024 to learn more about European sustainability methods. Her trip will culminate with a video documentary about her travels and what she learned. This documentary will be made available to Servas members worldwide. 

Catrina is currently seeking European hosts in the regions noted below.  

• The Schwartzwald (Black Forest) region of Germany 

• The Piemonte region of Italy  

• The Noordwijk and Haarlem regions of the Netherlands 

• The Loire, Burgundy and Dordogne regions of France 

If you or someone you know practices or is knowledgeable about sustainable living, please reach out to her. Areas of particular interest include communities and families who have or are currently involved with  

• Permaculture-based practices, 

• Biodynamic methods, and/or 

• Ease of life outcomes. 

Catrina would love to hear from you and welcomes collaboration with students and practitioners of all ages. To learn more about this project or hopefully, to host her, please contact Catrina Walker on the Servas International website.  This project offers a unique hosting and sharing opportunity.  

Here is a link to Catrina's "Alchemy of Ecology" website.

July 4-14, 2024 

The Servas Peace School in Ekinci, Türkiye is holding its 17th annual Peace Camp where Servas travelers can share their worlds with the village youngsters. One year ago this month, this region was badly damaged by a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake centered about three hours away near the major city of Gaziantep. The camp will give international travelers a chance to experience traditional village life and to meet and share with the local villagers. It is hoped that you will teach village children about your world, and in the process feel their joy and animated smiles. 

In the words of Italian Servas traveler, Francesco Stoduto who recently attended the camp, "Everything is unforgettable: the children, the animators/interpreters, the Servas friends from India, Pakistan, Mexico, Italy, Russia, the hospitality of the host families...And all the other friends who contributed to wonderful days and helped everyone forget the heat and wind of southwestern Turkey." Here is a link to Francesco's full article. 

In addition to experiencing village life and visiting villagers’ homes you might also assist with the post-earthquake recovery process. If you would like more information about the camp, please email servaspeaceschool@gmail.com 

August 25-30, 2024 

About the village - Servas Uganda would like to welcome you to its first peace school on August 25-30,2024 in the village of Buyoga, which is located 20 miles away from Masaka City. The village is well known for coffee and matoke, a kind of banana that is a food staple. Most villagers are subsistence farmers.  The language commonly spoken is Luganda and during peace school, a team of volunteer translators will be available to facilitate communication. 

How to get to the village?  - Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, arrangements to connect volunteers with their hosts will be in place. In orderto reach the village on time, plan to arrive in Kampala on August 23rd.  On the morning of 24th, a bus will leave Kampala to take all the volunteers to Buyoga.  This is usually a 3 to 4-hour drive, but we will take our time so the beautiful scenery can be enjoyed along the way.  

Hosting and peace school information. - All volunteers will be staying with village families.  After all, Peace Schools’ slogan is “live with us, share with us." We hope the Peace School will strengthen the values of peace and give our children the chance to interact with people from various places across the world in real-time, not only in books.  

For Information please email ServasUgandaPeaceSchool@gmail.com

July 19-25, 2024 

Servas Germany will host the 2024 Pathways Together Alpine peace hikes in Southeastern Bavaria near Berchtesgaden and the Königssee the week of July 19 to 25. It is a gorgeous area with spectacular mountain and lake views, and excellent hiking for all levels of experience. 

Participants will spend Friday July 19 through Sunday the 21^st at the CVJM Hintersee Centre located directly on Lake Hintersee with a view of the mountains. Lodging will be in double and multiple-bed rooms (3-4 beds), all with private bath. Bedding and towels will be provided. The bus stop is only a few meters from the hostel. It is possible to swim in the lake. The weekend program includes short excursions and day hikes of varying difficulty and plenty of time to meet the other hikers.  

Organized hikes begin on Monday the 20th with separate itineraries based on level of difficulty ranging from easy, moderate, moderate+, and difficult. Pricing is reasonable and varies depending on the hiking package chosen. Hikers who choose the easy treks will stay at the Hintersee Center and partake in multiple three-to-four-hour day hikes. Other options included multiple day hikes with stays at youth hostels. Here is a link to the Participation Fee Schedules. 

This is a recurring annual program that is well-organized and excitig with many opportunities to meet and get to know the other participants. There are 84 slots for this week-long adventure. The website includes pretty much all you need to know including detailed itineraries, descriptions of the hiking levels, prices, and links to the registration form, and additional information about the area. Here is a link to the English version of the website. 

June 22-29, 2024

Servas Georgia will hold our first peace school camp this Summer in Lamovani, Sakartvelo, Georgia, from June 22-29. We invite you to bring the world to our children, develop feelings of peace, and provide opportunities for participants – children and volunteers to experience different ways of living. We invite you to volunteer and share your unique experiences and skills with our children. At the same time, we will share our village with you.

You will stay in the Tbilisi Georgian American school for free and includes breakfast in the morning. Workshops will be held two days in Tbilisi for schoolchildren aged 10-13, and 4 days in the village of Lamovani for students aged 7-18. We will take you from Tbilisi to Lamovani village and will be returned by us to Tbilisi.

The main goal or our Servas Peace School is to bring the variety of the world to our village, develop feelings of peace in the participants, provide conditions for volunteers to learn local culture(s), and experience different ways of living on Earth. We also want to train local children and adults and help them become world citizens and Servas members. That is the core value that makes the Servas Peace School so valuable.

If you would like to attend the camp, please fill out this volunteer application form. For details about Lamovani Public School visit our Facebook page. If you have any other questions, please email us at peaceschoolsakartvelo@gmail.com.

How does our Servas Peace School work?

South Korea - April 29th - May 2nd 

Servas Korea invites you to join up to 40 cyclists for a four-day, 220 km peace ride along the beautiful Seomjingang River. The SIPR Bike Tour is open to all Servas cycling enthusiasts. We will ride approximately 65km a day. We will start in Seoul and travel by bus to Jeonju where we will begin the ride to Gwangyang. The itinerary is below.

Day 1: Monday, April 29th: Total 20km (city tour)

07:30 Start. Seoul Central Bus Terminal (Bus) to City Jeonju Express Bus Terminal. 10:00 City bike tour.

12:30 Lunch: UNESCO recognizes Jeonju as a City of Gastronomy.

14:00 Check in Jeonju Guest house.

18:00 Dinner (Lee Gawon Restaurant).

Day 2: Tuesday, April 30th:  Total 75km

8:00 -11:00 Seomjingang riding towards Lake Okjeongho and the first Certification Place.

12:00 Lunch.

14:00 Kim Yongtaek Poet’s museum of literature. 17:00 Sunchang Motel

18:00 Dinner (Deodeok bulgogi)

Day 3: Wednesday, May 1st: Total 70km Riding

8:00 Start.

10:00 Hyangga Amusement Park.

11:00 Saseong Am (Temple of the Four Holy Monks).

12:00 Lunch.

14:00 Temple Ssanggyesa.

18:00 Check in Kensington & dinner

Day 4: Thursday, May 2nd: Total 55km

9:00 Start. Choi Champan house (traditional Hanok) Pyeongsa-ri, & Park Kyungri Museum of Literature.

12:00 Island Baeal- final certification place 14:00 Gwnagyang Express Terminal and return to Seoul.

Contacts:

Mr. B W Choi / SIPR 2024 Organizer bwchoi1211@hanmail.net  +82 10-5255-0591

Mr. S K Song / Servas Korea National Secretary sksong@suncheon.ac.kr    +82 10-8484-2170

April 26-28, 2024 

We are holding a national gathering in the Southwest of England this spring and would love you to join us! It will be held near Dartmoor National Park with plenty of activities including Saturday day trips and a big Sunday meeting. There are good rail connections close to the Youth Hostel Bracken Tor and there is the chance of holding a Ceilidh ( [kay-lee] a traditional dance – lots of fun for everyone! We need to have at least 60 attendees to make this viable. Do get in touch if you are interested in attending - accommodation will be allocated on a ‘first-come, first served’ basis.

If you have any questions, please contact Rachael Clayburn (Travel Secretary): travel@servas.org.uk  

Details

Date: Friday 26th April - Sunday 28th April 2024 (2 Nights)

Place: YHA Bracken Tor, Okehampton (House), EX20 1QW:

Travel: Approx. 4 hours from London by train

Space: Bunk beds for 35, dining room, kitchen, nice lounge and gardens, 15-minute walk from train station

Activities:

Friday - arrive from 5 pm, Bring & Share supper, Evening Entertainment (music / travel stories tbc*)

Saturday - Breakfast, Outings (Exeter, Castle Drogo, Lydford Gorge, Okehampton, Dartmoor Walk tbc, everyone to arrange own transport/lunch/snacks), light evening meal, Evening Entertainment (film / board games tbc)

Sunday - Breakfast, 10am Check Out, Servas-related discussion or activity, Buffet Lunch, Depart.

Cost: (International payment methods to be confirmed)

Option 1 :  £90 max 35 people: two-nights' accommodation, Tea/Coffee, 2 x Breakfast, Saturday light evening meal, Sunday buffet lunch

Option 2 :   Sunday only £15: inc l.  Tea/Coffee, buffet lunch

Option 3 : £140: Sunday evening meal, Ceilidh, 3rd night accommodation, breakfast (only available if there is significant interest)

Extra:  Sunday Night Ceilidh £15 (only available if there is significant interest)

Register:  Please choose your option and contact Rachael Clayburn to register.

*tbc = ‘to be confirmed’

Note: Dartmor is famous for its moors and heather, Sherlock Holmes, the world’s largest land slug (up to 8”) ...and a recently discovered stone circle that may predate Stone Henge. 

Call for Host Country  

The next Servas International Conference and General Assembly (SICOGA) will be held in 2025. During SICOGA 2022, Servas Costa Rica indicated that they would like to be considered as a venue. There have also been informal discussions with other Servas member groups. Our thanks to all that have approached us.   

As is our custom, Servas International Executive Committee (SI Exco) will now give all Servas Groups an opportunity to submit a formal proposal before we begin the selection process. If you have questions that need to be resolved before your Servas Group can offer to host the next SICOGA, please get in touch.  We are happy to provide more details. November 15, 2023,is the deadline for expressions of interest. 

Following the initial expression of interest, each group will have until December 31, 2023, to submit a feasibility study. We will provide guidance on what information is needed, and what issues will be considered when selecting the most suitable venue. 

If we get enough proposals that meet the criteria, SI Exco hopes to finalize the venue during our January meeting. If that is not possible, we will continue the process. When thinking about your country as a possible venue for the SICOGA the key issues to consider include: 

• Do you have an active Servas Group who would be committed to working together to prepare for an international meeting which lasts for 6 days? 

• Is there a suitable venue available at an appropriate cost? 

• What sort of travel costs would be involved for delegates from different regions? 

• What issues might arise for delegates applying for visas to visit your country? 

• Please indicate the ecological footprint involved for delegates to travel tot he venue from different regions?(For example, is the venue accessible by train or bus for a great number of people?) 

Let us know if you have any questions.  

Please send your inquiries to exco@servas.org with “Hosting SICOGA2025” in the email’s subject line.  

Malawi now offers a well thought-out and certainly one-of-a-kind, four-to-six-week language and cultural exchange program. It is not a traditional SYLE, but one that is open to any current Servas member, not just youth.  

Malawi is a long, narrow, landlocked country in east Africa (see map below), surrounded by Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. It is commonly called the 'warm heart of Africa' and has a population of 14 million consisting of Muslims, Christians and Animists. The economy is largely based upon tea, coffee and sugar production. The daily staple is Nsima(maize) with relish (little fish-kapenta, beans, tomatoes, andonions). 

These are the requirements for participation.  

• Be a model Servas traveler 

• Be prepared to give a PowerPoint presentation about your life, your country, your Servas group 

• Buy and pay for your air travel and insurance. 

• Be between the ages of 18 to 80. 

• Pay $25 for four Chichewa language lessons. 

• Pay $100 SYLE fee (50% goes to the NGO that you volunteer with) 

• Be fit and have health Insurance. 

• Be able to communicate comfortably in English. 

• Pay for your own lunches, local buses, and incidental expenses. 

• Pay for the ingredients and cook one meal for each ‘long-stay’ host. 

• Have an up-to-date Servas LOI. 

• Have funds to travel the last week around Malawi. 

 

Arrival: 

You will be greeted at the airport and taken to the home of our National Secretary where you will stay for two nights to settle in before beginning your SYLE. We will present you with a Servas Malawi membership, T-shirt, ID, and an item worth up to $50 for YOU to donate to the NGO you choose to work with (see below). 

 

Week 1: Stay two nights with three or four Blantyre hosts who will: 

1. Take you to work with them for a day. 

1. Show you how to use the local minibuses, etc. to get around. 

1. Help you study and speak Chichewa. 

1. Visit St Michaels, Carlsberg, Thyolo & Mulanje 

 

Week 2 - 3: Stay with two long-stay hosts, one per week while doing daily volunteer work with an accredited NGO’s from the list that follows: 

1. Footprints Africa- agroecology in Mulanje. 

1. Tiyamike – photography work - make a booklet. 

1. Work with 2-6yr old children in a Nursery/Primary sch. 

1. Blood Donor Board – work in Mzuzu/Lilongwe 

1. Garage Workshop. 

1. Housing support. 

Week 4: 1 week of self-funded travel @ lake oraround Malawi & back for debrief with National Secretary. 

For more information CONTACT:  

National Secretary: demelzabenbow@gmail.com  •  WhatsApp +(265) 999-482-983 

SYLE Support: Jacqueline13@hotmail or call +(265) 997-376-475 or 993-920-386 

Servas International would like all members to share their thoughts on how to grow – perhaps with special interest groups. To that end, the Servas International Development Committee (SIDC) created a survey that they would like as many members as possible to complete.  Complete the survey here. 

SIDC has received a lot of requests to consider setting up special interest groups as a way for members to collaborate.We are asking that you complete this survey to find what special interest groups members are interested in. These groups will work together (in-person or virtually) to initiate, learn, and collaborate on topics they are interested in. Some interest groups that have been suggested are listed here. Please check as many as appeal to you. If there is a different interest group in which you might be interested, please include your suggestions at the bottom of the survey.

The survey is available in other languages on request.