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