European Federation for Intercultural Learning, Verena Schiefer24 september 2008 – 10:40

Intercultural Dialogue Day
September 26th 2008

This Friday, September 26th, an “Esplanada das Culturas” in Lisbon/Portugal will gather several immigrant associations to discuss the importance of Intercultural Dialogue and to propose means to accomplish it. At the same time, Russian pupils and teachers will discuss the relationship between their own and different cultures in Volgograd. Simultaneously, the public of Marseille/France is invited to join the painting of “Une mosaïque pour la Paix”.

These events are just three out of around 400 actions that are going to take place all over Europe and in the Mediterranean Region on September 26th 2008. In the framework of the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, this date has been declared the “Intercultural Dialogue Day” by the European Federation for Intercultural Learning (EFIL) and its AFS member organizations, in cooperation with the Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for the Dialogue between Cultures.
On that day, AFS volunteers in 21 countries make a joint effort to set up simultaneous activities across Europe and in the Mediterranean Region. School workshops, public movie screenings, high-level panel discussions are on the agenda, as well as concerts, youth debates and creativity workshops.

EFIL is a leading voluntary organisation in Europe in the field of educational exchanges for secondary school pupils. Thousands of volunteers promote the idea of mobility for the sake of intercultural dialogue, across the continent, in 22 national associations, that are also part of the world wide network of AFS Intercultural Programs.

Young people who build lasting friendships across cultures within and outside their home country, are one of the pillars to ensure future dialogue and understanding between peoples and nations. That is what EFIL/AFS aims to highlight on the “Intercultural Dialogue Day” on September 26th 2008.

More information, pictures and logos:
Verena Schiefer
Project Manager, European Federation for Intercultural Learning
Avenue Emile Max 150, B – 1030 Brussels
Tel.: +32 -2- 514 52 50; Fax: + 32 -2- 514 29 29; mobile: +32 488 479 797
Email: verena.schiefer@afs.org
Website: www.interculturalday.eu; http://efil.afs.org