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Would you like to offer hospitality and friendship to travelers of any ethnicity and culture? Are you willing to share your home and your experience with visitors, to help enrich your life and others? If so, consider becoming a Servas host. A host should provide a bed for two nights (or longer, but only at the host's invitation) and hopefully invite the traveller to share in the evening meal. Becoming a Servas Host Are you: - Someone who is comfortable opening their home to new people of different backgrounds and cultures
- Able to provide a bed (or even a couch) and a meal to Servas travellers for a minimum of two nights
Host Responsibilities Respond promptly to letters from travelers host may decline a request if it is inconvinient may suggest alternative hosts in the area when traveler arrives, asks to see Letter of Introduction explain the rules of the house to the traveler set aside some time to talk and visit with traveler
The host is not expected to provide transportation for the traveller, although some may want to show the traveller places of interest in the host's community. Hosts who are not able to provide overnight accommodation may still join Servas as Day Hosts. A Day Host will find a convenient time to meet the traveller, may provide information or a guided tour, or a work-place visit, a meal, or just find time for a chat. Day Host - Someone who is comfortable opening their home to new people of different backgrounds and cultures
Process contact your local Servas representative (see our list of coordinators) to be interviewed and approved. If you cannot find your local Servas representative, please write to the help desk at helpdesk@servas.org- fill out the Host Registration Form
- Attend an orientation meeting by a Servas host in your area
- If approved, your name will be added to your country's Host list
- Hosts must re-register annually
Pay a small annual fee
Personal Experiences São João del Rei: Tom and Marcia went out of their way to spend time with us, showing us much of the local area as well as introducing us to other friends. Last be not least, the food from Tom's own garden was great! Rio de Janeiro: At very short notice (1day Jürg invited us to spend 24 hours on his small-holding in the mountains. He introduced us to his philosophy of eating only raw fruit and vegetables (virtually all home grown) C Allen, Buxton, England Some of us continued on to Cinque Terre after very generously being hosted by Servas locals, and another addition to our group made us span four of the world's continents! Blessing came from Africa and definitely added a spirit to the trip. Europe, Africa, North America and Australia! Quite an extraordinary event in all aspects! The weather despite being very hot was beautiful, and again full of adventures and discoveries and singing (by torchlight on a moonlit stroll down the mountain!) and sunsets now ingrained in my memory.
There is so much more I could write about, but I will leave you here with this small taste of Sentierinsieme 2005 from the 'youngest and furthest' member's eyes. To all those who I shared these experiences with, I wish you all the best, to all my 'adoptive parents', and my dear friends and to those who showed me some of the world through bigger eyes, bless you and Molte grazie!
Alanna Proud, Armidale, Australia I stayed with one Servas host the whole trip in Ireland. The two story home of Gwyn and Sean in Dublin, in the Glasenvin area of Dublin. I had my own cosy bed - very nice. Being a Servas Traveller for the first time! Good fun Meeting and having a companion to travel around with was great. The Servas Traveller from USA. She also stayed with Gwyn and Sean and came to Cavan with us. It was interesting to hear her travel stories and ideas - her outlook in life was similar to mine. Saulo Phiri, Malawi Hints and Tips for Successful Hosting Items to be added... |
