This is Servas
Servas connects people for a more peaceful and sustainable world.
Servas is a global and multicultural network of people sharing a vision that it’s possible to make the world a more peaceful place. Members of the network connect both in real life and virtually to be more aware of each others’ cultures, religions and ethnic backgrounds. Meeting, connecting/reaching out, sharing and learning from each other enriches our lives.
We aim to work for a more peaceful world, one conversation at the time. We believe in breaking down prejudices, discrimination and intolerance - whatever creates barriers between people.
Servas offers:
● Hospitality programme. Through the programme unique personal meetings and experiences across cultures, including homestays offer insights into how other members live their everyday lives.
The Servas homestay programme is climate-friendly since it helps reduce your ecological footprint while travelling, compared to staying in hotels or most other types of accommodation.
Read more about what you’re offered as a Servas traveller and as a Servas host.
● International, national and local peace activities. Servas runs youth camps that focus on peace, a language exchange programme and is developing a concept for peace schools that are run in a number of countries, including Turkey.
● Peacebuilding at the United Nations. Servas International (SI) has consultative status as a non-governmental organization with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). At the yearly UN conference Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW), Servas has a large representation.
Read more about Servas at the UN here.
● Cultural and social activities. Servas groups and individuals organize a wide range of cultural, outdoor and peace-related activities both virtually on the web and on social media as well as in real life. The activities range over a variety of subjects, for example:
- organized mountain hikes and cycle rides
- singing together
- artistic collaboration
- cooking (on Facebook)
- flower lovers exchanging photos and experiences (On Facebook)