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The
Association for World Travel Exchange, Inc.
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The
AWTE was officially incorporated as a Non-profit Corporation under New York
State Law on April 1, 1953. Three different educational programs were initiated
by the AWTE with the purpose of promoting international understanding between
the peoples of the United States and peoples from across the world.
The
three programs administered under the auspices of the AWTE are:
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The
ICEP was created as an educational exchange
initiative in New York City in 1953, for the purpose of coordinating the placements
of international counselors in program positions at children's summer camps
across the United States. The ICEP opened a West Coast regional office in
LA, California in 1983.
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The
International Student Center
(Youth Hostel) began in 1956. The center currently has
about 54 beds, with dormitory styled accommodation. The current rate per night
is $20. Persons holding an international passport and between the ages of 18-30
are allowed to stay at the Center while they are visiting New York City. |
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The
Hospitality Tours also began in 1953 here in
NYC. American families would host a student or counselor in their homes for
a week or two, and some cases just over weekends. In recent years, the interest
for Host Families has dropped. One of the goals for AWTE is to build this back.
Church organizations, religious congregations, and summer camps are potential
possibilities to strengthen the network of host families for international counselors
and students. These hospitality tours play a crucial role in nurturing mutually
enriching experiences between international youth and American families, besides
exposing young people from overseas to American peoples, cultures, politics,
landscape and history. |
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Mr. Robert L. Tesdell,
the founder and Executive Director of the organization, was born in 1919 in
Iowa. After seven years of graduate study in both university and seminary
institutions, he became an ordained minister. Following fifteen years of staff
service in inter-religious youth organizations, he established the AWTE in
New York in 1953. He is considered a pioneer in facilitating the participation
of international counselors in American summer camps. Bob believes that "exchange
programs enable young people from different parts of the world to live together
peacefully in an increasingly complicated world."
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