Servas International

Servas International ("we serve (peace)" in Esperanto) is a non-profit organization proving 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.
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 reactionaty terms how terrible the Swedish Socialist government was. At that time there was almost no
countty 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 reactionaty 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
When it is started in 1949 hosts are printed by country and posted by each country to other member countries. Each member country has different organization and organ. Servas International formed as federation. It is named as Peace Builder in the beginning later renamed as Servas International.
Incorporation of Servas International
General Assembly In 1972 the importance, of establishing a legal international entity was discussed. It was agreed that it was necessary to have a legal framework for financial, administrative
international requirements. Dr. Max Habicht, Jnternational Lawyer and International Servas Sponsor prepared the attached "Statutes of Servas International" (Corporation Charter). The Charter was adopted and signed by all National Secretaries in attendance at the Conference. Servas Branches unrepresented by Secretaries at the Conference are requested to join the legal corporate body of Servas International and will be notified how to do so by the International Coordinator.
2006 Servas International started Servas on line project replacing paper based system
General Assembly in 2006 in Italy distant vote procedure created and Statues updated accordingly.
National Groups/Member Countries
Membership statistics
2023- 126 member countries 14,309 host, Updated 1 August 2020
Executive Committees
2022-2025
President: Radha B. Radhakrishna
Vice-president: Carla Kristensen
General Secretary: Jonny Sågänger
Membership & Technology Secretary: Paul Nielsen
Peace Secretary: Francisco Luna
Treasurer: Suresh Jain
SI Membership and Techhnology Secretary
SI Distant Vote Administrator (SI DVA)
SI Internal Audit Committee (SI IAC)
SI Development Committee (SI DC)
SI Youth and Families Committee (SI YFC)
2018-2022
President: Jonny Sågänger
Vice-president: Carla Kristensen
Treasurer: Radha B. Radhakrishna
SI Membership & Technology Secretary (SI MTS) : Jim Leask (replaced Andreas Becker in February/March 2020). Jim Leask shares the SI MTS responsibility with Paul Nielsen of Servas Australia.
General Secretary: Kiat Yun Tan
Peace Secretary: Paige LaCombe
2015-2018
SI President: Jonny Sågänger (Sweden)
SI Vice President: Ann Greenhough (Britain)
SI General Secretary: Penny Pattison
SI Treasurer: LV Subramanian
SI Peace Secretary: Danielle Serres
SI Host List Coordinator: Pablo Colangelo
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)
SI Vice President: Ann Greenhough (Britain)
SI General Secretary: Jaime Romero
SI Treasurer: Miroslaw Wasilewski
SI Peace Secretary: Danielle Serres
SI Host List Coordinator: Arnoud Philippo
2009-2012
President: Gary Sealey,
Vice President: Pramod Kumar,
General Secretary: Penny Pattison
Treasurer: Miroslaw Wasilewski,
Host List Coordinator: Pablo Colangelo,
Peace Secretary: Kim Jong Soo,
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,
Vice President: Mary Jane Mikuriya,
General Secretary: Pramod Kumar,
Treasurer: Ömer Özkan,
Host List Coordinator: Anna Flammini,
Peace Secretary: Nanda,
2004-2006
President: Geoff Maltby,
Vice President: Bibendra Pradhananga,
General Secretary: Honora Clemens,
Treasurer: Ömer Özkan,
Host List Coordinator: Claudio Pacchiega,
Peace Secretary: Gary Sealey,
2001-2004
President: Roger Martin,
Vice President: Bibendra Pradhananga,
General Secretary: Frits Stuurman,
Treasurer: Gyöngyver Kudor,
Host List Coordinator: Laura Ragucci,
Peace Secretary: Marco Kappenberger, West
Treasurers (Audit) Committee:
Committees
Appeals Committee:
Development Fund Committee
Complaints Committee
Nominations Committee
Job Descriptions Committee
1998-2001
President: Chris Slader
Treasurer: Gilbert Revault
Vice President: Bertrand Bailleul
General Secretary: Kevin Newham
Peace Secretary: Daniele Passalacqua
Assistant General Secretary and Host List Co-ordinator:
Claudia Pinto
Servas International Newsletter Editor: Sharon Beldon
1995-1998
President: Chris Slader
Vice President: Jenny Durand
General Secretary: Vibeke Matorp
Treasurer: Hazel Barham
Assistant General Secretary: Mariangela Brunello
Peace Secretary: Daniele Passalacqua
1992-1995
President: Ray Scott
Vice President: Jorge Zoppolo
International Secretary: Vibeke Matorp
Assistant Secretary: Maringela Brunello
Treasurer: Hazel Barham
Peace secretary: Harivallabh Parikh
1989-1992
President: Bob Luitweiler
Vice-president: Janos Kurucz
Treasurer: Hazel Barham
International Co-ordinator: Antonie Fried
Host Co-ordinator: Judy Ross
Peace Secretary: Felix Zurita
Asian Member: Harivallabh Parikh
Latin American Member: Jorge Zoppolo
African Member: E.K. Narter-Olaga
1986-1989
General Secretary: Antonie FRIED
Asst. General Secretary: Yvonne BROWN
President: Don FAWCETT
Vice-president: Duncan MEIKLE
Treasurer: Peter Brock
Editor SI Nwesletter: Frede ASGAARD
Area Coordinators
EUROPE: ULLA OFFER
AFRICA: E.K. NARTER-OLAGA
EAST ASIA: TAKASHI AOKI
SOUTH ASIA: HARIVALLABH PARIKH
SOUTH PACIFIC: TOM & ANNIE YOUNG
CENTRAL-AMERICA & CARIBBEAN: FELIX ZURITA ACHOA
SOUTH AMERICA: JORGE ZOPPOLO
CO-OPTED MEMBERS
Reva King
Maria Soresina
BARBARA WHITEHEAD
1983-1985
President: Don Fawcett
Vice President: Maria Soresina
General Secretary: Kay Lazaruz
Treasurer: Peter Brock
Peace Secretary: Jo Graham
Editor, Servas International News: Janine Hall
Assistant General Secretary: Lino Bugeja
Regional Coordinators
Regional Coordinator, Africa: Zeru Michael (Africa)
Regional Coordinator, SE Asia: Takashi Aoki
Regional Coordinator, N America & Caribbean: Rodrigue Aristide
Regional Coordinator, Europe & Near East: Antonie Fried
Regional Coordinator, Southern Asia: Harivallabh Parikh
Regional Coordinator, South Pacific: Nan Smith
Coordinator for South America: Jorge Zoppolo
1980-1982
President: Graham Thomas
Vice President: Don Fawcett
General Secretary: Barbara Whitehead
Assistant General Secretary Denise Waech
Peace Secretary: Reva King
Editor Servas International: News Rosalind Schama
Treasurer: Denise Waech
Regional Co-ordinators
Africa: Lydia Jones
Southern Asia: Harivallabh Parikh
Southeast Asia: Kunio Tanaka
South Pasific: Nan Smith
South America: Jorgo Zoppolo
North America&Carabian : Kay Lazarus
Europe and Near East: Antonio Fried
1978-1980
President: Graham Thomas
Treasurer: Doris Bucher
S.I.N. Editor: Donald Fuwcett
Asst. Treasurer: Denise Waech
The following positions wore filled by ballot
General Secretary: Barbara Whitehead
Vice-president: Martha Simon
Asst. Gen. Sec.: Reva King
Peace Secretary: Konrad Lübbert
Regional Co-ordinators wore appointed us follows:
Africa: Lydia Jones
Europe: Antonic Fried
South America: Narcelo Lorenzo
South Pacific: John and Judy Ebner
Southoust Asia: Masuo Amano
Southern Asia: Harivallabh Parikh
1974-1976
President: Reva King
Vice President: Harivallabh Parikh
Treasurer: Denise Vollenweider
Asst. Treasurer: Doris Bilcher
Secretary: Birgitte Damnsgaard
Asst. Secretary: Ronald Golding
Peace Secretary: Hans Werner Emrich
News letter Editor: Barbara Acquach
Assft Editor: to be selected by Barbara Acquach
1972-1974
President & International Coordinator: Kurt Schmid
Vice President & Ass't International Coordinator: Reva King
Treasurer: Denise Vollenweider
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
Latin America Laura Langagne
South Pacific Max Hartin
1970-1972
The. following persons were elected:
International Coordinator~ Kurt Schmid
Asst. Intl.Coordinator~ Reva King
Asst. IntI. Coordinator in Training: Barbara Trischuk
Regional coordinators. The following persons will handle the development of SERVAS in these countries:
Harivallabh Parikh —Afghanistan, Ceylon, Australia, Kenya, and Ethiopia
Benelux—Indonesia
Sweden—Finland and Iceland
Barbara Trischuk - Tanzania and Fiji
Joseph Girard -~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 the first European Servas secretary. Seeds Of Servas
General Assemblies
1952 Hamburg First Peace Builders International Conference, Out of which came the name "Servas"
References
Hospitality exchange services
Ecotourism
Organizations established in 1949
Peace organizations