ATTENTION!!

The registration deadline

has been put off!!

Dear volunteers and AFS friends, You just opened the second issue of bulletin, where you can find news and information about the AFS Megavikend, which you all cer-tainly can´t wait for. Meanwhile, you can read about the prepara-tions for you favorite AFS event. In the this issue, you can find out what free time activities are awaiting you. If you are still in doubt wheather to come or not, you can get some inspiration from the ar-tictales of last year participants, where they share their experience. We hope to see you all soon in Olomouc, Your Prep-team.

Practical information:

You can sign up at the web pages of Megavíkend by clicking at “registration form“ and filling out the form itself. You now have time until October, 4th.There are two options for accommodation at Megavikend - at the school on the floor in classrooms or at the Youth House for an extra fee of 250 CZK a night (if you want to choose this option, you have to apply by September, 27th).You are required to arrive by 6 p.m. on Firday October, 12th and, please, plan your departure from 2 p. m. on for Sunday.

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To start with...

ATTENTION!!

The registration deadline

has been put off!!

That even if you’re from another country, you don’t speak a word in Czech, you have no role as a volunteer in AFS CZE, you can still feel abso-lutely included to this great event and to this amazing group!

According to my experience, the workshops are really useful and you can learn and share a lot during these 2 days. On the other hand, of course, the nights are also interesting, because you can have lots of fun with the other volunteers. It’s nice to meet volunteers not just from the Czech Re-public, but from many other countries, because this wonderful group of AFS CZE is ready to share their joy with others. Let me tell you that the Czech volunteers are one of the most open AFS group that I’ve ever seen. Even if you just enter the room where they stay, they immediately switch to English. They’re curious about you, your country and your culture. They even give you the best place on the floor in the classroom where you stay during the Megavíkend! :-)

In 2011 I didn’t sleep for 4 days to get as much of this great experience as I could. I think this year I’ll sleep a whole week before the Megavíkend, so I can do the same, because this program is absolutely worth it.

I am Vica from AFS Hungary and I attended the Megavíkend in 2011 for the first time.I’ll return in 2012 also and in the following years if it’ll be possible, because I enjoyed it A LOT and I also promised to one of the Czech volun-teers that I’ll learn a Czech song and sing it in October 2012, so I’ll keep my word! :-)Would you like to know what is the best about the Megavíkend of AFS Czech Republic?

I love the feeling when I can say: “I´ve spent this weekend efficiently and effec-tively.“. And I had exactly this feeling af-ter the Megaweekend in Hradec Králové. Since the first information letter and in-troduction of the program, I knew that it was not going to be a waste of time. When I arrived to the training place in Hradec Králové and saw all those happy AFS faces I felt just as if I were in para-dise.

Karo

lína

Puch

mer

tlová

How was it last year?

The weekend was full of different presentations and activities so it was a really welcome change after a long time of routine days. The topic of presentation I chose was Intercultural Learning. Even though I thougt that I knew already everything about this topic, I was susprised that I was leaving the training with a lot of brand new information that fitted well into each other, just like a puzzle. And what is more, I can use the knowledge, I gained there, even now after a year.

Besides all the learning, the best thing I experienced was meet-ing new AFS people from almost all around Europe and becomming friends with them and also all the fun we had together. And the most important thing for me was that I could rediscover my enthusiasm for all AFS activities.

I can honestly say that, so far, it has been the greatest AFS traning weekend I´ve ever been to. :)

We’re hoping we will be able to prepare a couple of nice surprises for you during our Megavíkend this year, but the program for Friday night won’t be one of them for one simple reason - it depends on all of you! Because what could possibly be better to start our weekend full of experiences, knowledge, fun and great people with than...great food? :)

That is why we would like to ask you all to join us and prepare some specialty from your country or region and bring it to share it with the others. If you want to prepare something special for exam-ple from your AFS host country then go for it, we’re sure it will be appreciated! We’re looking forward to you and all your delicious surprises very much ;-)

Have fun on Friday

Megavikend 2011 in pictures

Intercultural Learning For New Volunteers, aka Training For New Volunteers + ICL 1

We would like to divide this training to two parts: AFS For New Volun-teers in the morning and Intercultural Learning in the afternoon. Dur-ing the first part participants are going to get basic information about the life of a volunteer in AFS and about volunteering in general. We are going to talk about about the AFS values and options, how to take part and what can one in AFS do. During the second part we are going to focus on the most importing educational aspect of AFS, which is intercultural learning or ICL for short. The participants are going to be introduced to different theories of ICL and try to apply them to AFS activities.

Trainers: Anna Kopecká, Daniela HruškováLanguage: Czech

Intercultural Learning continued… the journey to the heart of AFS

We are always talking about Intercultural Learning in AFS, but what is IT really? How can we talk about IT without saying Intercultural Learn-ing? How does IT relate to the educational goals of AFS and to our mission? Where is IT already in our daily AFS life? And where could IT be? Where do I learn more about IT? These are the questions that we will be exploring together in the workshop.

Trainers: Eva Vítková, Karoline KehrerLanguage: English

Leadership and Chapter Development „Keep the motivation alive!”... basic ideas about leadership, focusing on motivation and leadership in the context of AFS.… different ways to lead a chapter, leadership styles and keeping the motivation up during chapter development.

What are the tracks about?

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”John Quincy Adams (6th US president)

Leadership:In this workshop we’ll try to develop some ideas and basic understand-ing on leadership in general and in AFS context, focusing on the moti-vation of the leader and the team members. Join us if you would like to share ideas about what makes a leader leader, how to keep the good spirit of a team as a leader, how to set adequate and realizable goals to your team and how to use all this practice in AFS context.

Chapter development:Do you feel like doing all the work alone in your chapter? Why is no-body helping you? In this workshop you won’t find answers but we will discuss and learn from each other. There are different ways to lead chapters which are highly connected to leadership styles and motiva-tion. Developing trust and loyalty in the group is highly important and this is the reason why you will join this workshop. :)”Trainers: András Ede, Vica Bedo and Niklas MengelLanguage: English

The hidden potential of schools for AFS

Dear volunteers,If you are not sure, which of the tracks you prefer, and you can’t choose from all different options, why not trying SCHOOLS?! AFS is an organi-zation that seeks to educate and where else does education belong to than to schools. It is precisely this area though, in which we could do better. Are we lacking students to send, do we have less volunteers and host families than we would need? Schools can be the answer! In our track SCHOOLS you are going to find out about the importance of relations between schools and AFS. You are going to discover what AFS already does here and what could it do, if…, what are the options, the visions, what is going on, what is starting. There is going to be space for sharing your experiences and ideas. You are going to learn how to communicate with the principals and how to present your unique expe-rience from your program abroad in front of a group of high school kids during workshops at schools. We are going to show you a new and user friendly manual of school presentations and you are also going to get a chance to peek into the possibilities of AFS classroom exchanges.

Trainers: Krsitýna Polášková, Klára Hájková, Petr HejdaLanguage: Czech

Glimpse behind the scenes: discover the trainer in you!

Who is that AFS volunteer standing in front of all these innocent students? Have you ever thought of yourself as a trainer? Have you ever wondered how you could become one? In this track we will dive into the wonderfull world of being an AFS trainer. We will address the role, tasks, challenges and opportunities that come with being a trainer. You will learn about different training meth-ods, their pros and cons, and how to choose the right method. Are you an experienced volunteer looking for a new challenge? Then this track might be just right for you!

Trainers: Lizanne SchwerenLanguage: English

Marketing and AFS, aka how does it actually work?!

No doubt that each of us has came across the term „marketing“ at least a thousand times for the past few years. Take a moment though and think about if you really know, what this modern phenomenon actu-ally is. If you haven’t found a clear and satisfying answer, let’s find out together during a whole day workshop what „that marketing“ means and which interesting parts does is consist of. During our discovering we are going to keep within AFS context so that you can apply your new knowledge right after you come back from MGV. There is going to be both theory and and interesting application of it, so don’t hesi-tate and apply for our workshop!

Trainers: Lukáš JandacLanguage: Czech

Name: Mr. András EdeCountry: HungaryTrack: Chapter Development, Sunday sharingWhat does beeing an AFS trainer mean to me: I don´t real-ly now, when I make a workshop the most important thing is to make my participans happy and and have them motivated when they go home.My dream holiday is: Would love to go to a Safari to South Af-ricaThe worst food I have ever tasted: The food on the Megavikend in 2009 :) Well, I don´t really know :)Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner: None...

Name: Anna KopeckáCountry: Czech Republic, PrahaTrack: Intercultural Learning For New Volunteers, aka Training For New Volunteers + ICL 1What does beeing an AFS trainer mean to me: Great opportu-nity, how to meet new people and pass on my experiences with volunteering for AFS.My dream holiday is: Journey around the world. The worst food I have ever tasted: „Greasy juice“, which means blood of a cow.Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner: To answer that I would have to know one.:)

Name: Daniela Hrušková Country: Czech republic Track: Intercultural Learning For New Volunteers, aka Training For New Volunteers + ICL 1What does beeing an AFS trainer mean to me: A new expe-rience. My dream holiday is: Safari in Africa. The worst food I have ever tasted: Chicharron. Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner: No idea.

Name: Lizanne SchwerenCountry:The NetherlandsTrack: Glimpse behind the scenes: discover the trainer in you!What does beeing an AFS trainer mean to me: Being an AFS train-er to me means grabbing every opportunity I get to be with young, enthousiastic, talented people from all over Europe. To me, the most rewarding aspect of being a trainer is being with you! Learning from and with each other, sharing our cultures and experiences, getting to know each other, and having fun with each other, I’m loving it!My dream holiday is: Riding my bicycle from one end of Canada to the other.The worst food I have ever tasted: Durian.Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner: Can I have all five Backstreet Boys (from the time they were still five...)?

Megavikend 2012 Trainers

Name: Eva VítkováCountry: Czech RepublicTrack: Intercultural Learning continued… the journey to the heart of AFSWhat does beeing an AFS trainer mean to me: Fulfilment, fun, experiences, exploring, joy.My dream holiday is: Anywhere in the mountains. Low, high, with trees or rock, whatever.The worst food I have ever tasted: Cauliflower at kindergarten (now I can eat it)Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner: Rich. So that I can do just volunteering for AFS. :)

Name: Kristýna ŽákováCountry: Czech RepublicTrack: Sunday sharingWhat does beeing an AFS trainer mean to me: An opportu-nity to give something form me to the other people and a joy of seeing the participants leave satisfied and a knowledge or an experience wiser, an opportunity to grow, to be creative, a satisfaction, an opportunity to meet a lot of people from the Czech republic and from abroad.My dream holiday is: Definitely somewhere in the nature, preferably a combination of mountains and the sea at a place that is not so hot – there must be plenty of places like that!The worst food I have ever tasted: Im happy not remember-ing that.Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner: George Clooney when he was young ;-)

Name: Klára HájkováCountry: Czech Republic Track: The hidden potential of schools for AFSWhat does being an AFS trainer mean to me: To be an AFS trainer to me means that I cann pass my experiences on to the new genera-tion of volunteers. The membership in the pool of trainers means to me a new step in the AFS hierarchy.My dream holiday is: Paris Paris Paris even for a thousendth time, but the place is not important, it’s the atmosphere that counts...The worst food I have ever tasted: probably some rat or a guinea pig or something, which was a sort of local speciality in Peru or so.Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner: I don’t need a celebrity, I need a normal guy.

Name: Kristýna PoláškováCountry: Czech RepublicTrack: The hidden potential of schools for AFSWhat does being an AFS trainer mean to me: I’m not a trainer, one more reason to do this!My dream holiday is: Almost every single one, I enjoy holiday pretty much every time, but I would like to get to Costa Rica.The worst food I have ever tasted: The one I’m allergic to.Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner. Ben Stiller of course! :)

Name: Niklas MengelCountry: GermanyTrack: Leadership and Chapter DevelopmentWhat does beeing an AFS trainer mean to me: Sharing inspira-tions.My dream holiday is: already booked (visiting my host family in De-cember)The worst food I have ever tasted: I try to only remember the good moments.Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner: If any, maybe German tennis star Andrea Petkovic.

Name: Vica BedoCountry: HungaryTrack: Leadership and Chapter DevelopmentWhat does beeing an AFS trainer mean to me: Mission.My dream holiday is: South-America backpack tour.The worst food I have ever tasted: Frozen surimi stick (like plastic! :-/).Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner: Matt (Where the hell is Matt?)

Name: Karoline KehrerCountry: Austria Track: Intercultural Learning continued… the journey to the the heart of AFSWhat does being an AFS trainer mean to me: Being an AFS trainer means to me sharing my experiences with others – for example by passing on knowledge or skills or by just creating space for reflection and exploration. But it also means learning to me – by confronting myself with a topic in a new way and with the particular group I want to pass it on to.My dream holiday is: A summer spent in Argentina with my friends, with many days together at the lakes.The worst food I have ever tasted: Hm.. yayla çorbas (a very strange tasting turkish soup) .. and papaya, sometimes.Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner: Each ce-lebrity I could think of I had to sort out for some reason, so I’ll stick to a non-famous person. Or get a dog...

Name: Lukas JANDACCountry: Czech republicTrack: Marketing and AFSWhat does beeing an AFS trainer mean to me: Hav-ing the possibility to pass my knowledge to the others, meeting new people who got interested in AFS like me few years ago, recharging my motivation batteries :)My dream holiday is: Sun, beach and NO internet.The worst food I have ever tasted. Thailand – noodles prepared in very domestic way. Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner. From those I have met so far, no one.

Name: Petr HejdaCountry: Czech Republic Track: The hidden potential of schools for AFSWhat does being an AFS trainer mean to me: Am I a trainer? Well how about that! I’m actually doing mostly other things in AFS than training volunteers. But when I happen to understand something, I simply pass on my knowledge and experiences that I have collected through all the years of doing this. After all, I can’t just keep it all to myself.My dream holiday is: In some sort of East Asian village, near the mountains and above all away from civilization. During those few days I would turn off my cell phone and computer and go for a walk. At a moment, when you are standing in the middle of mountains and it all sourrounds you, it is simply a magnificent feeling.The worst food I have ever tasted: Mint chocolate. Re-ally, why someone wants to spoil such a treat by such a horrible flavour?Which celebrity would I choose as my life partner: Considering that I am again humming something I heard this morning in the radio and that I can remember song lyrics better then school stuff, it would be probably a young singer. I would fall madly in love with her… and then use the fact that I can visit her concerts for free to my advantage. :P

Guided tour in Prague

AFS Megavikend prepteam has prepared another treat for you - a day tour in our won-derful capital city of Prague, which we have prepared for you! Prague is one of the old-est cities in Europe and by many is considered to be the most beautiful one. We are sure you are eager to visit the stunning city and this is an oportunity you can´t miss! You will get the see the Prague castle (the biggest castle in Europe), the famous Charles Bridge, fairytale-like Old Town square, the Jewish quater and much more!

The guided tour will take place before departure to the Megavikend venue, on Friday 12th of October. It will start in the morning, meeting place and time will be sent to you by email! Let us know, if you are interested and if you want us to arrange accomodation for you for Thursday night! We will try to find a place for you to sleep at some of the Prague volunteers house. You will be able to sing up for this tour and the accomodation in the AFS Mega-vikend form.

In the next issue

Who are the Support Team members? The detailed programme? What will we do on Sunday? How to get to Megavikend 2012? ...and a lot more...

Texts: Zuzka, Translations: Katka H., Design: Lenie, Pictures: Megavíkend 2011, Lenie, Kája...

www.afs.cz/megavikend-enmegavikend@afs.org