AFS Intercultural Programs Founder Ward Chamberlin Featured in Upcoming Ken Burns Epic on World War II

AFS Intercultural Programs Founder Ward Chamberlin Featured in Upcoming Ken Burns Epic on World War II

Chamberlin Shares Story of Service as an American Field Service Volunteer Ambulance Driver in "The War," Beginning Sept. 23 on PBS

NEW YORK, Aug. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Ward Chamberlin, one of the founders of AFS Intercultural Programs, is among the veterans featured in "The War," the new Ken Burns documentary on the Second World War that begins airing September 23 on PBS. Chamberlin served in North Africa and Italy as a volunteer ambulance driver with the American Field Service.

The documentary, a seven-part series directed and produced by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, tells the story of the Second World War through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women from four American towns.

In "The War," Chamberlin describes how he and other American Field Service volunteers who served with the armed forces of the Allied nations experienced the destruction of World War II first-hand. Immediately following the war, this group of veterans started the idea of intercultural exchange involving teenagers and put it into practice in 1947-48, bringing 52 young Europeans to live for one year with American families. Today, AFS sponsors nearly 12,000 exchange students annually from more than 50 countries.

"What we saw during the war was that differences between people of other cultures could be resolved by getting to know each other and working closely together as we did in those stressful days," Chamberlin said. "From this fundamental idea came the present day AFS Intercultural programs. We hoped then -- and now firmly believe -- that these programs make a substantial contribution to peace in the world."

In the Burns documentary, Chamberlin and others tell their war experiences, often for the first time.

About AFS

The American Field Service, known today as AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. (http://www.afs.org/), is one of the world's largest not-for-profit community-based volunteer organizations dedicated to building a more just and peaceful world through intercultural exchange. AFS has a network of 52 partner organizations and runs programs in more than 80 countries involving nearly 12,000 students, young adults and teachers each year. Since 1947, more than 350,000 individuals and an equal number of host families have had the AFS experience. In addition, AFS has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.

CONTACT: Laurie Falconer, +1-505-888-5877, lfalconer@dwturner.com, for
AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.

Web site:

http://www.afs.org/

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