Tanju Verda Akan

“AFS volunteer opportunities allow volunteers to take part in the transformative experience of AFS participants. The large variety of services that AFS offers makes it possible for volunteers to work in fields that interest them. Host families, school personnel, local chapter members, former participants--and many other AFS volunteers--help create conditions that foster understanding, tolerance and love.“

--Tanju Verda Akan, 2005 Galatti Award Winner

Official Rules & Deadline

Nominations: All nominations must be supported by at least three (3) different volunteers in her/his country when submitting the candidate's nomination form on the web. Each nomination must include the names of the three individuals who are supporting it.

Nomination forms must be submitted using the on-line nomination form located here. All nominations will be forwarded automatically to each nominee's home office.

Eligibility: AFS volunteers who, over a sustained period of time, have provided at least five (5) years of outstanding support to AFS at the grass-roots level. Any local AFS volunteer who has not previously received the award and who is not serving on an AFS Partner Board or the Board of Trustees at the time of nomination is eligible for the award.

Participating Countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium French, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, India, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela.

Considerations When Selecting a National Winner: Each AFS Partner or affiliate organization will choose its local winner following any local procedures already in place and using the following considerations: