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Author: Susanne Pacher
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US Servas is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to promote peace through intercultural exchange. People can join as a traveler, as a host, or as both a traveler and as a host. but you don't have to be both. One can also become a contributor to Servas.
Travelers can benefit by meeting and living with people in the country they are traveling to. If you enjoy sharing good conversation with new people and being part of a host family's life, you will enjoy Servas.
Since no money goes to the host family, many people think, "Oh this a great cheap way to travel". That is not what we are. Our goal is peace, not inexpensive travel. We are different than a lot of other similar groups in that we interview all prospective travelers and do not approve those whose attitudes and goals do not agree with Servas.
Our mission statement is: "US Servas fosters a more just and peaceful world by promoting appreciation of cultural differences through homestays and experiences in the hosts communities."
We have hosts in over 130 countries and there are close to 15,000 hosts worldwide. In the US we have 1,500 hosts.
2. When was it started and who created it? What is the philosophy behind Servas?
Servas was started in 1948 by Bob Luitweiler, a conscientious objector. It was right after WWll and it originally had the name Peace Builders.Bob established local groups in different countries to promote peace and to make a change in society.
He built a hospitality system in Finland by going to Settlement Houses. In Germany, he got people who were in labor movements to join. In Denmark, he approached Folk High Schools,
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