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
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.
 * excerpt from Seeds Of Servas, Bob Luitweiler

History
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.

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, 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 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 paper based system

At the General Assembly in 2006 a distant vote procedure was created for Italy and the Statues were updated accordingly.

Membership statistics
2023- 126 member countries 14,309 host, Updated 1 August 2020

2022-2025
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

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 Brasil

Jamie Robertson Britain

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
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

2015-2018
SI President: Jonny Sågänger (Sweden) 🇸🇪 Sweden

SI Vice President: Ann Greenhough (Britain) Britain

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) Britain

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

Treasurers (Audit) Committee:

Committees
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 Brasil

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 Danmark

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

Peace Secretary: Reva King🇺🇸 USA

Editor Servas International: News Rosalind Schama

Treasurer: Denise Waech

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

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 🇦🇹 Austria

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 🇺🇸 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 Britain

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 Britain - 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.