For AFS volunteer Lisa, a recent trip to Spain offered a scenic view of Málaga, and more importantly it provided a masterclass in collaboration. Representing Aotearoa at the first-ever AFS Volunteer Leadership Summit, Lisa spent five days engaging with international facilitators and keynote speakers to refine the critical skills needed to lead volunteer teams. Beyond the workshops, Lisa shared the unique New Zealand volunteer model with her global peers, sparking fascinating discussions on how different cultures value and approach community service in the modern world. Lisa shares her experience:
In late November 2025 I had the honour and privilege to represent New Zealand at the Inaugural AFS Chapter Leadership Summit near Málaga, Spain. Around 100 Volunteers from around the world attended the 5 day conference and many friendships were formed and renewed, as happens whenever ‘AFSers’ get together.
Volunteer attendees came from more than 35 countries representing different ethnicities, cultures, languages, personal skills, backgrounds and varying experiences with AFS. All were enthusiastic and devoted to their belief in the importance of the AFS mission to promote peace through collaborative understanding and respect between all people and nations. This was clear to me from the very first day.
The goal of the Summit was to provide volunteers with critical skills to lead and to collaborate with volunteer teams within their local AFS Chapters. A team of experienced AFS volunteers was assembled to collaborate as facilitators, coordinators and logistics support team members. These people came from many countries around the world and worked very closely together toward making the Summit an engaging and valuable learning experience.
We were also lucky to have several keynote speakers from diverse backgrounds who spoke not only about their own personal AFS journeys but also about their work and careers which have been influenced by their early exposure to Global Citizenship and ongoing participation in promoting a more peaceful, inclusive and understanding world. Special attendees who spoke at the Summit included Daniel Obst, President & CEO of AFS Intercultural Programs, Ernesto Rey Moreno Chair of the Board, and Lucas Welter Chief Organization Development & Strategy Officer at AFS International in New York. All speeches were moving as well as entertaining, detailing life stories and connections with the people in our world.
Another special speaker was Dr Femida Handy, Professor of Nonprofit Studies at the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr Handy spoke about the reasons people volunteer and also how volunteering has an overall positive effect on our health and mental well being.
Within our smaller groups we discussed the importance of understanding how to work together as volunteers to make the AFS work-load well organised, and distributed so that people feel motivated, valued and empowered. As all other AFS partner countries work with local “Chapters”, the others in my group were quite astounded to hear that we no longer have these local chapters in New Zealand. I explained that volunteers across the country are working closely with AFSNZ staff to successfully accomplish the tasks previously covered by separate Chapters.
One thing I found quite interesting is how different cultures view volunteer work, the value they put on it and how they go about involving their communities with advancing the AFS values.
Meeting and connecting with the volunteers from around the world was a highlight for me. The enthusiasm, energy and dedication to the AFS Mission and Ideals was truly inspirational. I also enjoyed and admired all of the hard work and organisation by the AFS International Team as well as the informative & interesting presentations by selected speakers.
Overall, it was a very interesting gathering. Many stories were shared and it was a joyful and uplifting experience.
See more about volunteering at AFS here!