Dear Experiment Friends,
In this issue you can read about new and expanding programs as well as a great success story from Argentina. We also want to remind you about the upcoming John A. Wallace Scholarship being offered in Ecuador for 2008.
As always, the Experiment family continues to grow and change. There have been staff members coming and going in some offices and while we are sad to say goodbye to those who must leave we are always delighted to welcome new colleagues. You will also be introduced to 5 of the newest and youngest members of the EIL family.
As part of our 75th anniversary observance, we are adding a special historical feature to In The Loop so that we can continue to be reminded of all the people and events that have gone into making The Experiment what it is today. 2007 is the 30th anniversary of Donald Watt's death so we will to take this opportunity to honor his memory.
Federation EIL will be represented at WYSTC in Istanbul Oct 2- 5, along with several Federation members, among the over 450 organizations and companies in attendance. There will be reports from the conference in the next issue. See you soon in Turkey!
Ilene Todd
Elaine Stiles
Federation EIL International Office
| In This Issue | |
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Historical Highlight: 2007 Marks the 30th Anniversary of Donald Watt's Passing |
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Experiment Germany expands "Adianer" program to Chile and Argentina and other updates from Germany |
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EIL UK and CEI France meet in London |
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EIL Turkey hosts VIP group from AIPC-Pandora |
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EIL Intercultural Learning adopts new Mission Statement |
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"A Helping Hand for Voluntourism" from YTI Magazine |
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EIL Argentina success story with Isonza School Project |
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Wallace Scholarship to Ecuador |
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EIL Ireland awarded $98,000 US Dollars in Irish Government Funding |
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International office prepares to launch new Federation website |
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EIL UK introduces pilot programme for older volunteers |
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Updates from around the globe: staff changes, births, adoptions, marriages |
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Links of interest |
In
Memory of Experiment founder Donald B. Watt
In December of 1977, the Circular Letter published by the International Secretariat, announced the death of Experiment in International Living founder Donald B. Watt.
"On Sunday November 27, 1977, our Founder, Dr. Donald B. Watt passed away in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at the age of 84. A rich, full life and a brilliant career came to an end: our friend, mentor and inspiration Donald Watt has left us, but not before he had left a mark on the world and had given all of us a veritable treasure: The Experiment in International Living. For years to come, The Experiment will be living testimory of a life well spent." Read his biography as printed in the December 1977 Circular Letter.
The International office welcomes historical articles from your organization, stories from past Experimenters, pictures from your archives, or any other item of historical interest to the Experiment and Federation communities for this new quarterly feature of the newsletter. return to top
Sustainable Inspiration at Experiment Germany
submitted by Nicole Smeal
At the German Experiment office we have yet to rest after hosting the 75th anniversary four months ago. The spirit of the General Assembly and the exciting celebration held that Saturday in Berlin has inspired us enormously.
It
is also the everyday inspiration that we gain through our participants
that keeps us going - for example through our "Adianer". German
male citizens are required to complete either nine months of military
service or may opt to perform a civil service at a social, ecological
or educational institution in Germany. Luckily, they also have the possibility
to serve this time abroad. The German Experiment has been approved to
conduct ADiA (which translates into “other service abroad”), for which
we began a cooperation last year with EIL Ecuador. Twenty so-called German
"Adianer" spent 11 months at different teaching projects in
Ecuador from August to July. After a full academic year of teaching,
some of these Adianer took the initiative to create a handbook for the
following participants with helpful advice and suggestions for their stay
abroad, while establishing a structure for the language classes. 
This
kind of support exhibits the creative spirit and selfless motivation that
we all like to see. This year we were able to extend this program to
Argentina and Chile and are looking forward to the experience
our participants will gain at a food bank in Argentina and at various
social projects in Chile.
We are also able to welcome two Ghanaian students to spend a school year in Germany this year, who will be arriving within the next month. Their stay has been made possible through a full scholarship provided by the German Experiment. Both will find their new homes in Germany in two rural Southern towns, where their host families are anxiously awaiting their arrival. We only hope that the German weather doesn't scare them away again!
Pictured above, Tom Kurz, German Foreign Minister Steinmeier and Bettina Weidmann at an event in early July in Bonn. Foreign minister Steinmeier invited all external partners of the German foreign ministry who had participated in the EU Presidency of Germany (January to July 2007) to a thank you reception. Bettina and Tom were invited because eight volunteers (including Tom) supervised 54 children from all over Europe during a workshop that prepared a performance for the meeting of the EU foreign ministers in Bremen on March 30th 2007. Only about 100 people attended the reception in Bonn, and in a personal conversation the German foreign minister thanked us for our efforts and encouraged us to implement many more European projects and to keep working for intercultural communication . return to top
EIL UK and CEI France meet to discuss collaboration
David Shaddick and Mel Nock from EIL UK recently visited the CEI Club des 4 Vents office in London to continue discussions with Jose Luis Ponti and Guillaume Dufresne about future collaboration. Pictured at the CEI London office are Jose Luis Ponti, CEI Director of Incoming Programs, Mel Nock, EIL UK Board President, Kate Creswick, office Director CEI London, Guillaume Dufresne, CEI Director, and David Shaddick, EIL UK Director. return to top
EIL Turkey Hosts VIP Group from Spain submitted by Zeynep Toros
EIL Turkey hosted
the first VIP group from Spain/AIPC-Pandora this summer. David Moya (30),
Aida Lecegui (30), Laly 
Ruiz(58),
Elizabeth Cantarero (27), Laura Penya (27) and Aina Riera (25) arrived
on August 3 in Istanbul for a week long orientation program. They had
some lectures about Turkey, its political system and EU membership, and
also had guided city tours. Moreover, they had the chance to see the "Whirling
Dervishes" before they traveled to an Anatolian village for a three-week
volunteer project. Their project was painting and renovating the village
primary school and helping their village host families by working in agricultural
fields. Before the group departed on Sept 2nd, EIL Turkey conducted a
program evaluation session in Istanbul. All participants gave the program
high marks, and the group has already made plans to come back to their
Turkish village. The group picture shows the participants with the village
children. return to top
EIL Intercultural Learning has a new Mission Statement
EIL Ireland decided in late 2006 to begin a process of consultation with board members, volunteers, local reps, participants and staff with a view to updating the mission statement of the organisation and to coming up with a strategic plan to cover the period 2008 - 2012. The new mission statement has now been adopted and the work on the strategic plan is entering the final phase.
The Mission of EIL Intercultural Learning Ireland is:
To provide intercultural learning experiences which enrich lives, promote understanding of other cultures and challenge individuals to be more globally aware and responsible.
EIL Intercultural Learning's vision is one of the people and cultures of the world working together to create peace and equality through greater co-operation, mutual respect and better understanding.
The work of EIL Intercultural Learning is underpinned by a set of core values and guiding principles which include the organisation's not for profit status, its commitment to the safety and well-being of participants and its endorsement of the principles of equality, inclusiveness, sustainability and diversity. At all times EIL strives to achieve the highest standards and to employ best practices. return to top
YTI-Youth Travel International Magazine Features article on Voluntourism
Youth Travel International Magazine is the industry magazine for youth travel organisations and professionals worldwide. The July 2007 issue features an article addressing some of the key issues facing organizations providing volunteer programs. Click here to read the article as a PDF, or see 'Links of Interest' below for a link to read the entire July issue of YTI.
Experiment Argentina Announces "All the Children Have Godparents"
Since
2005, Experiment Argentina through the Isonza School Project, and Cabalgatas
Fernando Escudero through Turismo Solidario have worked to help the children
from the Isonza School in a rural community in the Argentine province
of Salta. They announced in June that they had succeeded in providing
all the children in the school with 'godparents', who provide a small
financial contribution and provide support throughout the educational
process of their 'godchild'. There is a wonderful "minisite"
at the Experiment Argentina/The Language Experience website that gives
more information about the project, plans for future development, letters
from the children, and much more. It is well worth your time to pay a
visit, and see the great work that has been done and all that is planned
for the coming months.
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Wallace Scholarship to Ecuador 2008
As announced previously, EIL Ecuador is offering the 2008 Jack Wallace Scholarship, which is a 6 month program beginning in April of 2008. The volunteer will assist the only teacher of a rural elementary school near the tropical town of Puerto Rico with the development and organization of school lessons and activities. This great opportunity is available to a volunteer between the ages of 21 and 45, with a low to intermediate level of Spanish, and with an interest in gaining an understanding of education in rural Ecuador. Full information is available from the International Office. All applications should be sent to the International office by January 15, 2008. Click here for the full description of the program.
EIL
Ireland awarded $98,000 US Dollars in Irish Government Funding
- submitted by Kevin Hickey
In the last month EIL Ireland has been awarded $49,000 for its Development
Education Programme by Irish Aid and a further $49,000 by the Youth Affairs
Section of the Department of Education and Science.
The EIL Development Education programme is aimed at returned Irish participants
on the VIP volunteer programme and is based on the belief that the volunteer
experience is primarily a learning experience for participants about global
issues. On their return to Ireland volunteers are asked to be the voice
for the stories of the people they worked with and to highlight their
first hand experiences of poverty, injustice and inequality. In 2006 EIL
launched the Global Awareness Programme to highlight the problem of HIV
and AIDS in Africa - this involves selecting and training key volunteers
who spend time working with community based groups in South Africa and
Nigeria and on return to Ireland embark on major awareness raising campaigns.
The funding from Irish Aid is to co-ordinate the development education
work within EIL and allows the organisation to employ a full time Development
Education Co-ordinator.
The funding from the Department of Education and Science is towards the
general administration costs of EIL and in particular to allow EIL to
focus on improving the quality of programmes and to upgrading child protection
policies and practices.
return to top
New Federation Website
In our search for historical features in the archives of newsletters in the International office, we came across the article from the August 1997 "Federation News" that announced the launch of the original experiment.org website. This original website is now 10 years old, an eternity in cyber years! Though is has served us well, the International office is again collaborating with Meg McCarthy, who did the re-design of the Volunteers for International Partnership site, to create a new and updated Federation website.
The new site will continue to offer general information about the Federation for individuals and for organizations, contact information for all offices, and current events. The resource section will be streamlined and easy to use, with some new features that will bring us right up to the minute, including an option for each office to do updates right on the site. We expect to have a working resource center within a few weeks and a full launch of the new website around November 1.
Pilot programme for 'Over 50' Volunteers
At the General Assembly Meeting in
Berlin, David Shaddick, EIL UK Director, led a workshop on volunteering
for the 'over 50 set'. Three members - Thailand, Argentina and South Africa
- have designed pilot `taster` programmes - to introduce this age group to
international volunteering, show them it is something that they can do
and enjoy and encourage them to apply for a longer individual volunteer
project. The taster programmes will be between 2 and 3 weeks and will
be for groups of 10-20 people.
A number of countries have already expressed an interest in recruiting
for these programmes; including Germany, Italy, Spain, and Japan. Anyone
else that may be interested can contact David, d.shaddick@eiluk.org
to ask for current details of programme plans. The first destination will
be Thailand, probably in late January 2008, followed by Argentina in April
and South Africa, probably in October or November 2008. If these pilots
prove successful, we hope that more host countries will consider adding
volunteer programmes for the over 50 set.
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Staff Changes:
EIL UK - Chris Harris has left the EIL UK office, after 20 years of service to the organisation. Chris has moved on to a local solicitor's office. She was responsible for sending all of the individuals and groups from the UK. Any federation office that has received a volunteer, IHP or group from the UK, will undoubtedly have worked with Chris. Chris has been replaced by Ann Pritchard, who started in the UK office at the beginning of July a.pritchard@eiluk.org. Ann has worked with Land Rover in personnel, and will continue with Chris's work with sending and with Arcadia University .
Also at EIL UK, Cathrine McGrath has retired, after 15 years of service. Cathrine managed incoming groups and host communities. Anyone sending people to the UK in recent years, will probably have worked with Cathrine. Cathrine has been replaced by Rosie Sessarego r.sessarego@eiluk.org Previously, Rosie has been a nurse and trainer.
EIL Ireland - Yvonne Egan of the Development Education Department, has left, and is relocating to the US. The new Development Education Co-ordinator is Laura Spring a former VIP participant to Ecuador who also has a post graduate qualification in development studies. Also at EIL Ireland, Karen Bunyan, volunteer program officer is taking her leave and is being replaced by Anton Kieffer.
Marriages:
Bettina Weidmann and Joe Ritzer said "I do" in a civil ceremony in Bonn on September 7. A November wedding is planned.
Births/Adoptions:
Phyllis
and Jerry Ingersoll have three new grandchildren as of this summer, and
we hope to have pictures by the next edition.
Conny Merkt (Experiment Germany) and Christoph Schmitt are now the proud parents of Julius Schmitt who was born on Thursday, September 20th.
Introducing Jack, EIL Ireland's newest member pictured at left sitting with proud mom Aisling Meade and joined by Fiona O'Leary.
Please keep up informed of updates in your country, and we can keep everyone "In the Loop" with a regular updates section in the newsletter. return to top
- Experiment alum to Switzerland in 1959, shares her story of internationalism and parenting. Go to Our World, the World Learning news site to read more.
- YTI-Youth Travel Industry Magazine, July 2007