10/8/2009 - NEXT GENERATION NEEDS ‘CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE’: PETER FITZSIMONS
Sydney – Australia,10 August 2009: Prominent media and publishing identity Peter FitzSimons has accepted the role as Patron of AFS Australia, the leading provider of intercultural programs for young people, currently celebrating its 50th year. A former AFS exchange student, Mr FitzSimons describes the ‘cultural intelligence’ gained through AFS programs as vital for young Australians.
“In a world where economic, environmental and security issues must be solved globally, it’s extremely important that young people can engage with different world views,” says Mr FitzSimons.
“AFS Australia helps young people get that sort of cultural intelligence, through real immersion in school, music, sport, work or family life in another country.
“It’s a brilliant experience, and one that, in my personal experience as an AFS exchange student to the US, backing in the 1970’s, certainly changed my life. I’m therefore delighted to be Patron of AFS Australia which helps young people get meaningful insights into other cultures,” he adds.
AFS Australia’s National Director Aasha Murthy comments that the organisation is delighted that Peter FitzSimons had accepted the role, especially in AFS’ Gold Anniversary year.
“In the past 50 years, AFS Australia has guided more than 15,000 young Australians through overseas exchange programs,” says Ms Murthy.
“For most, the opportunity to step outside their everyday experience, and review their attitudes, aspirations and assumptions in another cultural light is a life changing experience. In fact, many credit their time with AFS as the impetus for a meaningful career in business, the arts, sport and the media and society in general.”
AFS Australia has a national program of events to celebrate its 50th anniversary with alumni, families and friends. In the last few months, the organisation has also developed a wide range of programs and initiatives including:
• Expanded programs for student to ‘gap year’ young adults – reflecting the diverse interests of young people, AFS Australia offers options ranging from school-age study and sports programs to ‘gap year’ programs that combine travel and volunteer work. These programs are for varying durations and are available to school based and 18+ participants.
• Hundreds of scholarships for students and teachers
Among the scholarship opportunities currently being available are for:
o 264 Aussie students and selected teachers are currently being selected to visit Japan this December for two weeks. AFS and the Japanese government are also working on further programs for the future, which will include longer stays with Japanese families.
o Five soccer scholarships to Brazil – for young people currently playing soccer at local level, to a tailored, five-week home-stay and training camp in Sao Paulo
o Corporate scholarships – some 15 Australian businesses, including Rio Tinto Future Fund, Sydney Water, Optus, Xstrata Coal and Leighton Holdings to name a few provide scholarships – by application from the children of their employees – covering the costs of travel to AFS partner countries.
• Teacher-only options – in addition to trips accompanying students to countries including Japan, AFS also is establishing a program that will sponsor visits for teachers across Australia to several countries in the network, Germany and Thailand being the first ones to be announced.
“Young people have a great opportunity to shape a new and different environment by expanding their world view and using the experiences that derive from our programs,” concludes Aasha Murthy.
“The intercultural learning that participants experience across all our programs is holistic, giving participants knowledge and understanding of all aspects of communities in which they spend their time. Above all, it enables them to find out more about themselves so we just encourage them to ‘Go Live Life’,” she says.
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