# Servas International

Servas International ("we serve (peace)" in Esperanto) is a non-profit organization providing a hospitality exchange service.
Servas is a nonprofit member organization that builds peace and cross-cultural understanding through day visits or overnight home stays among members who share information about themselves, to help ensure accountability. It was founded in 1949, in the aftermath of World War II, by Bob Luitweiler and other Danish students as an international network for people to meet and where suitable, to be offered a short stay, as part of the peace movement.
The organisation may now be described as a platform, part of a gift economy. Members can be both hosts and travellers, and hosts do not charge for lodging.
Members pay an annual fee to the organization, which is determined locally by country. There is an international executive and each country has an elected board or committee to manage membership (including interviews for new applicants), determine membership fees, organise social events, support various peace-related activities.
Servas is owned by an accredited Non-governmental organization and has been affiliated with the United Nations since 1973.

## Servas and the UN together for peace

Servas has had observer status in the UN since 1973. There is a team of Servas members in New York, Vienna and Geneva who follow the negotiations in various commissions.
The Human Rights Council is meeting in Geneva. Servas and other non-governmental organizations participate in this body with written and oral statements on its current issues.

## Two Servas Seeds Planted

* excerpt from Seeds Of Servas, Bob Luitweiler
Outside of Stockholm, on the way back from Helsinki, I visited a work camp for peace where Gertraud Hertling, a German student volunteer sowed the first seed of Servas. A shapely girl with a ready smile, she said in excellent English, "You cannot imagine how isolated the German youth are. First, as a result of the Nazi regime then during the War, our youth have been cut off. Now the occupation forces allow us to take no more than five dollars out of the country. You can't go far with that. How can our German youth, locked into occupied Germany, learn the meaning of democratic ways?" One of the advantages of traveling alone is the frequent loneliness of being far from home in a strange land. Missing friendly human contact impelled me to talk with everyone I chanced to meet - someone sitting nearby waiting for the train or ferry, someone siting alone in a restaurant; someone sitting in the park or walking near me. Evety kind of person enlarged my knowledge and gave me new insights. The next Servas seed came from a young American whom I met that on the road. He told me at great length and in the strongest reactionary terms how terrible the Swedish Socialist government was. At that time there was almost no country in Europe that cared more for its working people without blocking entrepreneurial initiatives, as the Communist countries did. Sweden's medical services were excellent and mostly free. Their Consumer's Co-operative movement was the envy of thoughtful people around the world. Their educational system was also outstanding. Of equal significance, there were no unemployed or poor people. I was profoundly disturbed up by his attitude. This young man had gotten the most biased picture of Sweden possible from the reactionary rich host family he had been placed with for the summer, by a well known international student exchange program. Ouch! There was certainly a need for a different hospitality system.

## History

Servas was founded in 1949, in the aftermath of World War II, by Bob Luitweiler and other Danish students as an international network for people to meet and where suitable, to be offered a short stay, as part of the peace movement.When it started in 1949, host details were printed by country and posted by each country to other member countries. Each member country began their own country organization. Servas International formed as a federation of all member countries. It was originally called Peace Builder but later renamed Servas International.
In1989, Pat Knowles wrote a useful account of Servas, from its beginnings up to 1989 that focused on peacebuilding and friendship, and networking. Servas International's Peace Secretary was in touch with some international organisations including War Resisters' International, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Quaker United Nations Office, Pax Christi International. In illustration of its UN status, Knowles reproduced Servas International's submission to the UN Special Session on Disarmament in 1978. Knowles also described the initiative in 1986 for Servas groups to recruit a national peace secretary with duties like those of Servas International Peace Secretary. Contributions from the peace secretaries of Germany, Poland and Israel are included. Knowles explores the connection between travel and understanding asking about the early study groups on non-violence techniques and the question 'can we travel too far, too fast?'
Incorporation of Servas International At the General Assembly in 1972 the importance of establishing an international legal entity was discussed. It was agreed that it was necessary to have a legal framework for financial, administrative international requirements. Dr. Max Habicht, International Lawyer and International Servas Sponsor prepared the attached "Statutes of Servas International" (Corporation Charter). The Charter was adopted and signed by all National Secretaries at the Conference. Servas Branches unrepresented by Secretaries at the Conference were requested to join the new legal and corporate body, Servas International, and were notified how to do so by the International Coordinator.
In 2006 Servas International started a Servas On Line project replacing its paper based system
At the General Assembly in 2006 a distant vote procedure was created for Italy and the Statues were updated accordingly.

## National Groups/Member Countries

| Country | Host | Member since | reinstated |
| Albania | 8 | 1995 |
| Algeria | 12 | 1995 |
| Argentina | 386 | 1989 |
| Armenia | 2 |
| Australia | 614 | 1972 |
| Austria | 229 | 1949 |
| Bahrain | 1 |
| Bangladesh | 34 | 2015 |
| Belarus | 49 | 1995 |
| Belgium | 305 | 1972 |
| Benin | 11 |
| Bhutan | 1 |
| Bolivia | 18 | 1995 |
| Botswana | 22 | 1998 |
| Brazil | 144 | 1989 |
| United Kingdom Britain | 568 | 1949 |
| Brunei | - | 1995 |
| Bulgaria | 34 | 2015 |
| Burundi | 4 |
| Cambodia | 5 |
| Cameroon | 32 | 2009 |
| Canada | 425 |
| Chile | 34 | 1995 |
| China | 28 | 2004 |
| Colombia | 99 |
| Republic of the Congo Brazzaville (RC) | 31 | 2009 |
| Congo Kinshasa (DRC) | 10 |
| Costa Rica | 64 | 1989 |
| Croatia | 17 | 2004 |
| Cuba | 14 |
| Cyprus | 1 |
| Czech Republic | 152 | 1989 |
| Denmark | 251 | 1949 |
| Dominican Republic | 6 |
| Ecuador | 27 |
| Egypt | 6 |
| Estonia | 3 | 1995 |
| Ethiopia | 7 |
| Falkland Islands | 1 |
| Finland | 70 |
| France | 1935 |
| Gambia | 16 | 1998 |
| Georgia | 24 | 2012 |
| Germany | 1949 | 1949 |
| Greece | 24 | 1983 | 2009 |
| Guatemala | 27 | 1989 |
| Honduras | 19 | 1989 |
| Hong Kong | 36 | 1992 |
| Hungary | 101 | 1989 |
| Iceland | 3 | 1998 |
| India | 260 | 1951 |
| Indonesia | 25 | 1995 |
| Iran | 109 | 2012 |
| Ireland | 78 | 1983 |
| Israel | 183 |
| Italy | 1504 | 1972 |
| Japan | 207 |
| Jordan | 2 |
| Kazakhstan | 24 | 2009 |
| Kenya | 24 | 2012 |
| Korea | 267 |
| Kosovo | 1 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 20 | 2004 |
| Laos | 2 |
| Latvia | 14 | 1992 |
| Lebanon | 4 |
| Lithuania | 14 | 1992 |
| Luxemburg | 11 |
| Madagascar | 5 |
| Malawi | 50 | 2004 |
| Malaysia | 34 | 2004 |
| Mali | 10 |
| Malta | 3 | 1983 |
| Mauritius | 5 |
| Mexico | 90 |
| Moldova | 1 |
| Mongolia | 6 |
| Morocco | 20 | 1998 |
| Myanmar | 1 |
| Nepal | 53 | 2012 |
| Netherlands | 286 |
| New Zealand | 294 | 1972 |
| Nicaragua | 1 |
| Nigeria | 11 | 1995 |
| Norway | 124 |
| Pakistan | 80 | 1998 |
| Palestine | 9 |
| Panama | 12 | 1992 |
| Paraguay | 24 | 1995 |
| Peru | 39 | 1998 |
| Philippines | 15 | 1989 |
| Poland | 320 | 1989 |
| Portugal | 63 | 1983 |
| Romania | 45 | 1992 |
| Russia | 102 | 1989 |
| Rwanda | 48 | 2015 |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 1 |
| Saudi Arabia | 14 |
| Senegal | 2 | 1989 |
| Serbia | 8 |
| Sierra Leone | 25 |
| Singapore | 14 |
| Slovakia | 35 |
| Slovenia | 17 |
| South Africa | 70 | 1986 |
| Spain | 739 | 1983 |
| Sri Lanka | 7 |
| Suriname | 13 |
| Sweden | 328 |
| Switzerland | 262 | 1949 |
| Taiwan | 111 | 2009 |
| Tanzania | 28 |
| Thailand | 35 | 1992 |
| Togo | 55 | 1998 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 2 |
| Tunisia | 5 |
| Turkey | 135 | 1992 |
| Uganda | 38 |
| Ukraine | 20 | 2012 |
| United Arab Emirates | 10 |
| United States | 1509 | 1949 |
| Uruguay | 33 | 1983 |
| Uzbekistan | 5 |
| Venezuela | 43 |
| Vietnam | 32 | 2015 |
| Zambia | 15 | 1998 |
| Zimbabwe | 6 | 1995 |

## Host/Membership statistics

| Year | Date | Countries | Host | Member | Reference |
| 2024 | August 2024 | 125 groups, 71 Member Groups | 12,591 | 15,251 |
| 2023 | August 2023 | 125 Groups | 15,177 |
| 2022 | August 2022 | 125 Groups | 14,309 |
| 2021 | March 2021 | 125 Groups | 15,268 |
| 2020 | March 2020 | 125 Groups | 16,057 |
| 1997 | 1997 | 108 Countries | 12,442 | | SI News No 40-1998 |
| 1995 | 1995 | 97 Countries | 13,910 | | SI News No 37-1995 |
| 1989 | November 1989 | 117 Countries | 13,226 | | SI News No 33-1991 |
| 1989 | November 1989 | 122 Countries | 11,700 | | SI News No 31-1990 |
| 1986 | 1986 | 95 Countries | 9,199 | | SI News No 27-1988 |
| 1983 | 1983 | 95 Countries | 6,000 | | SI News No 21-1984 |
| 1974 | January 1974 | 32 Countries | No information |

## Executive Committees
### 2022-2025
#### Exco

President: Radha B. Radhakrishna USA
Vice-president: Carla Kristensen Portugal
General Secretary: Jonny Sågänger Sweden
Membership & Technology Secretary: Paul Nielsen Australia
Peace Secretary: Francisco Luna Mexico
Treasurer: Suresh Jain India

#### Committees/Officers

SI Distant Vote Administrator (SI DVA):
Craig Melrose Australia
SI Internal Audit Committee (SI IAC):
Yukiko Namariyama Japan
Gülşen Elyak Turkey
Ana Rita Gama Portugal
SI Development Committee (SI DC):
Pamela Yang Taiwan
Evren Özkan Turkey
Neuma Dantas Brazil
Jamie Robertson United Kingdom
Bhudeb Chakravarti India
SI Youth and Families Committee (SI YFC)
Bogdan Ionescu Romania
Elena Olivera Begué Spain
Mehmet Ateş Turkey
Raffaella Rota Italy
Hiren Goradia India

### 2018-2022
#### Exco

President: Jonny Sågänger Sweden
Vice-president: Carla Kristensen Portugal
Treasurer: Radha B. Radhakrishna India
SI Membership & Technology Secretary (SI MTS) :
Jim Leask Canada (replaced Andreas Becker in February/March 2020). Jim Leask shares the SI MTS responsibility with Paul Nielsen of Servas Australia. Australia
General Secretary: Kiat Yun Tan Malaysia
Peace Secretary: Paige LaCombe USA

#### Committies/Officers

SI Internal Audit Committee
L V Subramanian India
Phyllis Chinn, USA
Gülsen Elyak, Turkey
SI Development Committee (5)
Lilly Kerekes Beltran, Mexico
Ewa Dzierzawska, Poland
Fidele Rutayisire, Rwanda
Pablo Colangelo, Argentina
Pamela Yang, Taiwan SI Youth and Families Committee (5)
Susana Martinez, Spain
Raffaella Rota, Italy
Natasha Noreen, Italy
Aneris Cao, Chile
Mar Ferre, Spain SI Distant Vote Administrator
Chris Patterson, New Zealand

### 2015-2018

SI President: Jonny Sågänger (Sweden) Sweden
SI Vice President: Ann Greenhough (Britain) United Kingdom
SI General Secretary: Penny Pattison Canada
SI Treasurer: LV Subramanian India
SI Peace Secretary: Danielle Serres France
SI Host List Coordinator: Pablo Colangelo Argentina
Development Committee:
Audit committee
Servas International Archivist
Conflict Resolution Committee:
Nomination Committee:
SI Job Descriptions and Statutes Committee:
Distant Vote Administrator:
Chris Patterson New Zealand
Youth Leadership Committee:

### 2012-2015

SI President: Jonny Sågänger (Sweden) Sweden
SI Vice President: Ann Greenhough (Britain) United Kingdom
SI General Secretary: Jaime Romero Colombia
SI Treasurer: Miroslaw Wasilewski Poland
SI Peace Secretary: Danielle Serres France
SI Host List Coordinator: Arnoud Philippo Netherlands

### 2009-2012

President: Gary Sealey, Canada
Vice President: Pramod Kumar, USA
General Secretary: Penny Pattison Canada
Treasurer: Miroslaw Wasilewski, Poland
Host List Coordinator: Pablo Colangelo, Argentina
Peace Secretary: Kim Jong Soo, South Korea
Finance Committee
Conflict Resolution Committee
Nominations Committee
Newsletter Editor
Archivist:
Youth Development Officer
Youth Coordinator:
Job Description/Statutes Committee
Distant Vote Administrator

### 2006-2009

President: Gary Sealey, Canada
Vice President: Mary Jane Mikuriya, USA
General Secretary: Pramod Kumar, India
Treasurer: Ömer Özkan, Turkey
Host List Coordinator: Anna Flammini, Italy
Peace Secretary: Nanda, Sri Lanka

### 2004-2006

President: Geoff Maltby, Australia
Vice President: Bibendra Pradhananga, Nepal
General Secretary: Honora Clemens, USA
Treasurer: Ömer Özkan, Turkey
Host List Coordinator: Claudio Pacchiega, Italy
Peace Secretary: Gary Sealey, Canada

### 2001-2004

President: Roger Martin, Norway
Vice President: Bibendra Pradhananga, Nepal
General Secretary: Frits Stuurman, Netherlands
Treasurer: Gyöngyver Kudor, Hungary
Host List Coordinator: Laura Ragucci, Argentina
Peace Secretary: Marco Kappenberger, West Samoa

#### Committees

Treasurers (Audit) Committee:
Appeals Committee:
Development Fund Committee
Complaints Committee
Nominations Committee
Job Descriptions Committee

### 1998-2001

President: Chris Slader UK
Treasurer: Gilbert Revault France
Vice President: Bertrand Bailleul France
General Secretary: Kevin Newham Australia
Peace Secretary: Daniele Passalacqua Italy
Assistant General Secretary and Host List Co-ordinator: Claudia Pinto Brazil
Servas International Newsletter Editor: Sharon Beldon Netherlands

### 1995-1998

President: Chris Slader UK
Vice President: Jenny Durand France
General Secretary: Vibeke Matorp Denmark
Treasurer: Hazel Barham UK   Assistant General Secretary: Mariangela Brunello Italy
Peace Secretary: Daniele Passalacqua Italy

### 1992-1995

President: Ray Scott New Zealand
Vice President: Jorge Zoppolo Uruguay
International Secretary: Vibeke Matorp Denmark
Assistant Secretary: Maringela Brunello Italy
Treasurer: Hazel Barham UK
Peace secretary: Harivallabh Parikh india

### 1989-1992

President: Bob Luitweiler USA
Vice-president: Janos Kurucz Hungary
Treasurer: Hazel Barham
International Co-ordinator: Antonie Fried Germany
Host Co-ordinator: Judy Ross
Peace Secretary: Felix Zurita
Asian Member: Harivallabh Parikh India
Latin American Member: Jorge Zoppolo Uruguay
African Member: E.K. Narter-Olaga

### 1986-1989

General Secretary: Antonie FRIED Germany
Asst. General Secretary: Yvonne BROWN New Zealand
President: Don FAWCETT USA
Vice-president: Duncan MEIKLE Canada
Treasurer: Peter Brock Germany
Editor SI Nwesletter: Frede ASGAARD Denmark
Area Coordinators
EUROPE: ULLA OFFER Germany
AFRICA: E.K. NARTER-OLAGA Ghana
EAST ASIA: TAKASHI AOKI Japan
SOUTH ASIA: HARIVALLABH PARIKH India
SOUTH PACIFIC: TOM & ANNIE YOUNG New Zealand
CENTRAL-AMERICA & CARIBBEAN: FELIX ZURITA ACHOA Mexico
SOUTH AMERICA: JORGE ZOPPOLO Uruguay
CO-OPTED MEMBERS
Reva King USA
Maria Soresina Italy
BARBARA WHITEHEAD England

### 1983-1985

President: Don Fawcett USA
Vice President: Maria Soresina Italy
General Secretary: Kay Lazaruz USA
Treasurer: Peter Brock Germany
Peace Secretary: Jo Graham USA
Editor, Servas International News: Janine Hall France
Assistant General Secretary: Lino Bugeja Malta

#### Regional Coordinators

Regional Coordinator, Africa: Zeru Michael (Africa)
Regional Coordinator, SE Asia: Takashi Aoki Japan
Regional Coordinator, N America & Caribbean: Rodrigue Aristide Guadeloupe
Regional Coordinator, Europe & Near East: Antonie Fried West Germany
Regional Coordinator, Southern Asia: Harivallabh Parikh India
Regional Coordinator, South Pacific: Nan Smith Australia
Coordinator for South America: Jorge Zoppolo Uruguay

### 1980-1982

President: Graham Thomas
Vice President: Don Fawcett USA
General Secretary: Barbara Whitehead
Assistant General Secretary Denise Waech Switzerland
Peace Secretary: Reva King USA
Editor Servas International: News Rosalind Schama
Treasurer: Denise Waech Switzerland
Regional Co-ordinators
Africa: Lydia Jones
Southern Asia: Harivallabh Parikh India
Southeast Asia: Kunio Tanaka Japan
South Pasific: Nan Smith
South America: Jorgo Zoppolo Uruguay
North America&Carabian : Kay Lazarus
Europe and Near East: Antonio Fried

### 1978-1980

President: Graham Thomas United Kingdom
Treasurer: Doris Bucher Switzerland
S.I.N. Editor: Donald Fawcett USA
Asst. Treasurer: Denise Waech Switzerland
The following positions were filled by ballot General Secretary: Barbara Whitehead United Kingdom
Vice-president: Martha Simon USA
Asst. Gen. Sec.: Reva King USA
Peace Secretary: Konrad Lübbert Germany
Regional Co-ordinators wore appointed us follows: Africa: Lydia Jones
Europe: Antonie Fried Germany
South America: Narcelo Lorenzo
South Pacific: John and Judy Ebner
Southeust Asia: Masuo Amano Japan
Southern Asia: Harivallabh Parikh India

### 1974-1976

President: Reva King USA
Vice President: Harivallabh Parikh India
Treasurer: Denise Vollenweider Switzerland
Asst. Treasurer: Doris Bilcher Switzerland
Secretary: Birgitte Damnsgaard Denmark
Asst. Secretary: Ronald Golding Australia
Peace Secretary: Hans Werner Emrich Germany
News letter Editor: Barbara Acquach United Kingdom
Assist. Editor: Martha Simon USA
Resource: SI NEWS #03

### 1972-1974

President & International Coordinator: Kurt Schmid Austria
Vice President & Ass't International Coordinator: Reva King USA
Treasurer: Denise Vollenweider Switzerland
Ass't Treasurer: Swiss Servas member to be appointed by Denise Vollenweider
Secretary: Birgitte Damsgaard
Vice Secretary Maria Soresina
Peace Secretary: Jim Ryding
Editor of International Newsletter: Maria Soresina
Regional Coordinators:
Europe: Denise Vollenweider
Africa: Titus Mugavana
North America: Reva King USA
Latin America Laura Langagne
South Pacific Max Hartin

### 1970-1972

The. following persons were elected:
International Coordinator~ Kurt Schmid Austria
Asst. Intl.Coordinator~ Reva King USA
Asst. IntI. Coordinator in Training: Barbara Trischuk United Kingdom
Regional coordinators. The following persons will handle the development of SERVAS in these countries:
Harivallabh Parikh India—Afghanistan, Ceylon, Australia, Kenya, and Ethiopia
Benelux—Indonesia
Sweden—Finland and Iceland
Barbara Trischuk United Kingdom - Tanzania and Fiji
Joseph Girard France -~Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia
International Coordinator—Eastern Europe

### 1951

Founders of Servas were those dedicated people like Bob Luitweiler, Connie Thorpe, Esma Burrough and the others in the Birmingham, England Peace Builder's team, and, Esther Harlan in California.
Esma Burrough UK the first European Servas secretary. Seeds Of Servas

## General Assemblies

SERVAS INTERNATIONAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY (The SIGA) is Servas International's highest decision-making body and is modelled on the United Nations’ General Assembly democratic model: one nation, one vote. The SIGA usually takes place every 3 years, in a different location (screenshots from Wikipedia). At the Servas International General Assembly (SIGA), the Servas International Member Groups vote on proposals called motions that have been submitted by the member groups or by SI Exco. Everybody attending the SICOGA is able to attend the SIGA business sessions as observers, but only the delegates from the Servas International Member Groups have the right to speak and vote, according to the Servas International Statutes.
1952 Germany Hamburg First Peace Builders International Conference, Out of which came the name "Servas"
In 2025 the SIGA will be held in Dijon, France, October 3–9.
| # | Year | Country | Place |
| #1 | 1952 | Germany | Hamburg |
| #2 | 1953 | Denmark | Askov |
| #3 | 1954 | Netherlands | Epe |
| #4 | 1955 | Germany | Schuluchsee |
| #6 | 1958 | Austria | Landeck (Tyrol) |
| #7 | 1959 | Netherlands | Oosterwijk |
| #8 | 1960 | Belgium | Ghent |
| #9 | 1964 | France | Paris |
| #10 | 1965 | Austria | Vienna |
| #11 | 1966 | Denmark | Copenhagen |
| #12 | 1967 | Czechoslovakia | Bratislava |
| #13 | 1970 | Austria | Vienna |
| #14 | 1972 | Germany | Wetzlar |
| #15 | 1974 | Switzerland | Arcegno |
| #16 | 1976 | United States | San Francisco |
| #17 | 1978 | Denmark | Elsanor |
| #18 | 1980 | India | Gujarat |
| #19 | 1983 | Israel | Nahariya |
| #20 | 1986 | Italy | Roma |
| #21 | 1989 | Canada | Montreal, Quebec |
| #22 | 1992 | France | Paris |
| #23 | 1995 | Australia | Melbourne |
| #24 | 1998 | Guatemala | Antigua Guatemala |
| #25 | 2001 | Thailand | Nakhon Nayok |
| #26 | 2004 | Spain | Barcelona |
| #27 | 2006 | Italy | Latina |
| #28 | 2009 | Argentina | Mar Del Plata |
| #29 | 2012 | Poland | Piaski |
| #30 | 2015 | New Zealand | Matamata |
| #31 | 2018 | South Korea | Seoul |
| #32 | 2022 | India | Panchgani |
| #33 | 2025 | France | Dijon |