| The first impression of Pablo Chufeni is that | | | | be able to offer free learning programs to 18 |
| he's just a bundle of energy - Pablo just | | | | to 30 year old Servas members in 4 languages: |
| radiates optimism and enthusiasm. He is from | | | | Spanish, Portuguese, French and English.In |
| Argentina, in his twenties, and works in a | | | | addition, Pablo is also working on organizing |
| variety of professions, including as a | | | | the first International Servas Youth Meeting |
| professor teaching theatre, and as a TV | | | | in the Southern Hemisphere. The event is |
| producer. He got his first work experience at | | | | called "Patagonia 06" and will be held during |
| a local program of a developing bank, working | | | | the 3rd week of January of 2006. Servas |
| with poor teenagers. Beyond these varied work | | | | members from all over the world will be |
| activities, Pablo dedicates a huge amount of | | | | invited to share their experiences of how to |
| his time as a volunteer for Servas, and as | | | | enhance the organization's effectiveness for |
| you will find out soon, he is working on | | | | promoting peace. Pablo also intends the event |
| setting up a number of exciting international | | | | to make Servas more dynamic and more |
| youth initiatives for this organization.Pablo | | | | accessible to young people. He feels there |
| originally discovered Servas through his | | | | are so many possibilities of harnessing this |
| uncle. He has had an opportunity to travel to | | | | international network of like-minded people |
| the Netherlands, to Belgium, France and | | | | for the peaceful development of the |
| England, and he credits Servas for making | | | | world.Patagonia 06 will be hosted in the |
| these travels possible since he would | | | | well-known Argentinean resort town of |
| otherwise not have been able to visit these | | | | Bariloche and it will be an extremely |
| countries. Servas allowed him to travel | | | | affordable event: The conference program |
| cost-effectively and gave him the opportunity | | | | including accommodation and meals will only |
| to really get to know these places.Upon | | | | cost US$160.00. This low cost will allow |
| returning from these trips, Pablo decided to | | | | young people from all over the world to |
| create a local Servas chapter in Rosario, | | | | participate.On a more local level, Pablo |
| Argentina's second largest city. Today there | | | | hosts "diversity meals", dinners that are |
| are 15 very active Servas members and the | | | | intended to get more young people involved in |
| group has already hosted 2 national meetings | | | | Servas. So far he has hosted 4 meals with 4 |
| with people from 5 different provinces.Pablo | | | | participants each, and 6 of these people have |
| told me of his experiences in Montevideo | | | | now become active Servas members, another |
| where he met a young Brazilian woman who | | | | example of the success of local outreach |
| wanted to study Spanish. Pablo thought that | | | | programs.Pablo's imagination never rests. In |
| Servas offered a phenomenal international | | | | addition to his current projects he is |
| network of open-minded people, and somehow | | | | already thinking of combining Servas travel |
| this network could be harnessed in productive | | | | with farm work experiences as well as |
| ways. He ended up designing a program for | | | | international job shadowing and internship |
| youth to study abroad. This young Brazilian | | | | opportunities. Very soon you'll hear from |
| woman ended up staying a whole month in | | | | this whirlwind of positive energy himself, |
| different Servas member homes in Argentina | | | | how he develops all these creative ideas and |
| while a teacher gave her free Spanish | | | | finds the time to implement them in his |
| language lessons. She also had a chance to | | | | spare-time.Susanne Pacher is the publisher of |
| take tango lessons, a real introduction to | | | | a website called Travel and Transitions( |
| Argentinean culture. This was enhanced by a | | | | Travel and Transitions deals with |
| scholarship at a theatre arranged by Pablo, | | | | unconventional travel and is chock full of |
| which normally would have cost $700. In | | | | advice, tips, real life travel experiences, |
| return for this experience, Argentina sent a | | | | interviews with travellers and travel |
| young Servas member to Brazil to study | | | | experts, insights and reflections, |
| Portuguese.This initiative has now expanded, | | | | cross-cultural issues, contests and many |
| and in addition to Brazil and Argentina, | | | | other features. You will also find stories |
| Pablo is setting up free youth language | | | | about life and the transitions that we face |
| exchange programs in Mexico and Uruguay, and | | | | as we go through our own personal life-long |
| he is currently working on expanding the | | | | journeys.Submit your own travel stories in |
| Servas language learning and cultural | | | | our first travel story contest( and have a |
| exchange experience into Canada and the | | | | chance to win an amazing adventure cruise on |
| United States. All in all, this program will | | | | the Amazon River. |