The Free Tea Party

It is the little things that will save the world. Tea may seem like something small to some people, but it can be great way to bring people together. I say let’s all start tea parties and invite strangers and spread  the L.O.V.E…..

by Marcelle Santos

A regular day serving tea

http://www.freeteaparty.org/

As soon as we spotted the FREE TEA sign, Chris and I smiled at each other, then raced towards the school bus parked across the street. Could this be some sort of joke? Curious, we took a peek inside: there was a library, a kitchen, a bed, and a very diverse group of smiley, tea-drinking strangers. Turns out this was CouchSurfer Guisepi Spadafora's cozy little home.

A self-claimed hobo and social adventrepreneur, Guisepi is the man behind the Free Tea Party, a non-profit that cultivates community through the serving of free tea. For him, tea parties are a way to bring people of different ages, backgrounds and beliefs together - much like CouchSurfing!

Meet Keveen Gabet, the man who creates love carpets

  The face behind the love carpets

Keveen Gabet's dad was hoping he'd become a lawyer someday. Instead, this 28-year old CouchSurfer from France became a teacher, a poet, a photographer, a filmmaker, a ukelele player, and a maker of love carpets, amongst other things.

No matter which occupation, his mission is to spread love, encourage others to do the same, and connect people worldwide. It can be summed up in one word -- Korakor --, which he created in reference to the French expression corps à corps.

“In French, corps à corps means 'body to body'. It is a connection with life, others, oneself and all that makes our world. It is traveling to the heart of people to embrace diversity. It is seeking to co-create, collaborate and share as much as possible."

Love carpets on sidewalks

While traveling the world, Kaveen practices Korakor through two of his projects: Spread Your Love and It'skool.

My mother warns me against bees and snakes and my father wishes I were a lawyer.

The idea behind Spread Your Love is to get people thinking about, and expressing, love. Part of it involves what he likes to call “love carpets” -- drawing hearts on the sidewalk and encouraging strangers and passers-by to join in.

The It’skool project is a free and mobile classroom offering alternative, interactive education in remote areas.

CouchSurfing is an essential part of both. Currently, there are 5 love carpet actions being organized through our website.  Instructors for the It'skool project are also being recruited from the CS community.

“I used to do these things alone, but now I share this experience with CouchSurfers. CS is a good way to find volunteers who are interested in integrating with the local population.”

Two girls help create a Love Carpet

http://www.korakor.org/en/

I've been looking for you Asanda

Today i drift. I drif to you and hope I find you on that same road I lost you.