European Federation for Intercultural Learning (EFIL) contributes to Europe’s future by providing intercultural education, European citizenship and the active participation of European citizens in the continent’s life. The European Union and the Council of Europe are EFIL’s core Partners for European fundraising, policy-setting and sharing.
European Federation for Intercultural Learning
Contributing to peace and justice in a diverse world by promoting intercultural understanding and sensitivity among European and other countries, organisations and citizens
Find out moreEFIL's understanding of intercultural concepts
EFIL promotes a broad understanding of culture, intercultural competence and learning, in line with updated academic discourse and current political processes.
We provide extraordinary intercultural learning opportunities
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About EFIL
The European Federation for Intercultural Learning: the federation of AFS organisations in Europe. -
Advocacy
Engage in overall advocacy of Intercultural Learning on the European level and lobby to remove structural obstacles to pupil, volunteer and youth exchanges, meanwhile confirming and strengthening EFIL’s position as a key player in providing Intercultural Learning opportunities and ensuring EFIL’s involvement in strategic alliances of interest to the AFS core business. -
Voice
Communicate EFIL related issues internally and through external communication channels to stakeholders, in order to inform, engage and inspire internal and external audiences about EFIL’s work and mission. Share and spread knowledge and expertise about Intercultural Learning and mobility in the network.
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Projects & Programmes
Offer attractive projects and programmes that foster European identity and intercultural understanding, this way supporting Member Organisations to grow with quality through empowering their volunteer networks, increasing their visibility and/or help them grow their sending/hosting number -
Academy
Support Member Organisations in gaining knowledge and developing skills and intercultural competences, by offering training opportunities for their volunteers and staff, so that they will be better equipped to grow with quality, and be empowered to operate within the AFS and European environment. -
Expand
Enlarge the Federation by developing new partner representations in European countries where there is no current presence of EFIL/AFS, with focus on the European Union.
EFIL annual theme 2019
In 2019 EFIL will focus on the topic of ‘Social impact – AFS volunteers as educators, changemakers and advocates for a better world’. Throughout the year numerous activities will take place around Europe focusing on different aspect of the theme.
Discover our Activites
Throughout the year EFIL organises meetings, trainings, seminars and more for staff and volunteers of AFS organisations in the EFIL network.
#RecogniseStudyAbroad Campaign
The objective of the campaign #RecogniseStudyAbroad is to raise awareness among policy-makers and educational stakeholders about the lack of recognition of long-term pupil exchanges. A Press Release has just been released on this important topic, please click here to read it. You can also click here to register for the newsletter!
Latest news and events
News about our activities
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Training for Trainers 2019
The TfT is an annual event where trainers and volunteers from different nationalities come together for a week to… -
TICLAB (Training and Intercultural Learning Advisory Body) meeting in Brussels
The annual meeting of the Training and Intercultural Learning Advisory Body (TICLAB) took place 22-24 February 2019 in Brussels, Belgium.… -
[email protected] Teacher Training 2019
On 21-24 August, a training course for secondary school teachers and school leaders will take place in Berlin, Germany. This…
News about advocacy
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Expert Network on Recognition of outcomes of learning periods abroad in general secondary education for a European Education Area
In 2025 all students in Europe will be able to spend a period of studies abroad, thanks to the initiative… -
EFIL is member of the European Education Policy Network on Teachers and School Heads!
The European Education Policy Network on Teachers and School Leaders is a Europe-wide network of several organisations (policymakers, practitioners, researchers… -
Council of Europe’s Youth Sector in danger – EFIL’s reaction to the proposed contingency plan
On Friday 3th of May 2019, and following several years of budget reduction within the Council of Europe, its Secretary…
Forum on Intercultural Learning and Exchange
Forum on Intercultural Learning and Exchange ‘Values Education in Student Exchange‘ will take place 27-30 October 2019 in Colle di Val d’Elsa, Italy.
The 10th edition of the Forum will gather about 70 experts and practitioners on the topic of intercultural training of teachers. The purpose of Forum X goes beyond just stating “noble” values yet again as they have already been phrased by the UN, UNESCO, CoE, Delors, AFS and many others. It focuses on how these values can be translated into learning activities for students involved in an exchange so that they may become part of their lives, as well as their families’ and schools’.