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and nealed civillan victims without regaru to tho polilics-of those who needed help in France, Germany and Russia, Spain, China and the Middie East, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Vietnam. In 1947 the AFsC, together with the Friends Service Council ot Britain, received the Nobel Peace Prize for its "silent help from the nameless to the nameless . . . In Guatemala, Mexico, Chile and Zambia, AFSC workers conduct projects of social and technical assistance designed to heip people in developing AFSc staff in several countries, at the United areas discover and utilize their own power and Nations in New York and Geneva, and in Washing. resources. At home, the AFsc has long shared ton, D.C., organize informal meetings where leaders organizing skills and other resources with minor- Trom ditferent nations can explore ways to resoive ities and lower-income groups. In many projects international diflerences peacefully and to distribute across the U.S., staff who themselves are members world resources equitably. Ot minority groups are hard at work in their own SI. : +fsc? communilies with the people most affected.by Y".Is!. :I r whnt it deas? racism and poverty. merican Friends Service Commitlee is an Because war substitutes outward force for inward Quakers do not sub- Jent Quaker organization, lounded in 1917 guidance and conviction, Quaker testimony opposes scribe to a formal creed. Je conscientious objectors with an oppor- war and encourages refusal to participate in it. in but piace the authority aid civilian victims during World War I. more than 20 communities across the country. of conscience, individ- vith international headquarters in Philadel- AFSC stalf work to build informed public resistance ual experience, and 1 regional olfices across the United States. to war and militarism and advocate nonviolent communal consensus Jrogram operations overseas, it is chartered action for change. above the authority of on religious, charitable. social, philan- creeds or traditions. and relief work on behall of the severa! With roots in the Reti- s and divisions of the Retigious Society of gious Society ot (Quakers) in America. Friends, and with many FSC is eslablished as a non-prolit Corpora- Quakers and others on I: 1sisting of 160 Quakers, appointed by 20 its stalf, the AFsc seeks to give contemporary '-etings of American Friends and also meaning to the call of George Fox-a founder of targe. A Board ot Directors, drawn from Quakerism in the 17th Century-who urged Friends nbership of the Corporation, governs the to "walk cheerfully over the earth, answeringthat ot pro ns and administration of the AFSC. God" in everyone. us prugtam and administrative commiltees, Holding fast to the Quaker testimonies ot love, at home and abroad, integrily, ccmpassion; and simplicity. the AFSC oversee the operations seeks to express a tenderness for the dignity and of the AFSC ard con- promise of every individual; a related emphasis on sult with the more than people rather than agendas, structures, or ideolo- 400 men and women gies, 'a tolerance for cultural and philosophical who make up the stalf divcrsity and a denial that violence can ever be Of the Conmittee. Hun- right. Tne AFsC sces each human life as sacred, creds ci vc.unteers as- each porson as a child of God. r.7m