Children's International Summer Village Taking Applications For Exchange Programs

What did your children do this summer? How can your child gain the understanding to have the necessary life and leadership skills in a globally connected world? Nearly a dozen kids aged 11-18 from Cincinnati and the Northern Kentucky area have spent time this past summer in many countries, staying with families and working and engaging with other age-matched kids from all over the world.

Children's International Summer Village (CISV) is the preeminent non-profit children’s peace education organization in the world – and it was founded right here in Cincinnati.  

CISV founder, Doris Allen, a psychology professor at UC, found that 11 is the perfect age for a child to participate in Village because children have less prejudice and preformed notions than adults. The program has grown over the last 60 years and has now had over 60,000 participants from over 200 countries worldwide. The goal of CISV is to give children exposure and experience to educate and inspire action for a more just and peaceful world.

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CISV is now recruiting for their Summer 2018 programs.

At a Village, a delegation of four 11-year-olds will spend four weeks at a camp somewhere in the world with kids from 11 other countries.  This multilingual and multicultural experience allowed the delegates to participate in a mix of educational, cultural and sporting activities, which emphasize cooperative global and intercultural living.  Parents who have sent their children agree that the experience was incredibly valuable, leading to greater independence and global awareness. This year, Cincinnati had delegations to Villages in France, Honduras and Hungary as well as an upcoming Village this December in Sweden.  CISV allows children to learn about other cultures and helps us see that even though we have differences, we are the same overall.  The CISV Cincinnati Chapter will send three delegations to the following countries in 2018:  Indonesia, El Salvador and Mexico City.

The Interchange Program matches girls and boys aged 12-13 years old with a similar group from another country. This year, the Interchange group of six Cincinnati kids collaborated with families from Graz, Austria.  Our delegates hosted a boy or girl from Austria for 2 1/2 weeks and then flew to Graz with a leader to experience a deep encounter with their matched families for the rest of the month.  The Cincinnati delegation will interchange with the Peru delegation in summer 2018.

The Step Up Program for 14-15 year olds is a 21-day village with a focus on leadership development. Step Up participants this year had opportunities in Portugal and Sweden.  Typically, four students plus one adult leader make up the Cincinnati delegation, joining students from nine other countries.  While the program location is part of the experience, interacting with people from all over the world is the primary focus. Many of the activities centered on ways to work out differences in a peaceful manner.  The 14 year-old Step Up delegation (2 boys/2 girls) will go to Darmstadt, Germany in July 2018.

Junior Counselors are 16-17 years old and serve as leaders for the 11-year old Villages and tend to be the most popular folks at Village.  Junior counselors (JC) this year served in Mexico spending a month working with children and leaders from all over the world.  In 2018, the selected female JC will travel to Indonesia and the selected male JC will travel to San Antonio/Austin.

The Seminar Program is for ages 17-18 and is facilitated by the participants. They develop their own themes to explore issues and form opinions about individual, international and multi-cultural matters, within a framework that stresses positive conflict resolution.  The 2017 Seminar program was in Bergen, Norway.  The 2018 program details have not yet been communicated.

The Youth Meeting is for ages 16-19 and features individual themes that allow young people to explore intercultural issues.  Participants build leadership skills and organizational skills. Youth Meeting participants this year traveled to Lisbon, Portugal.  Summer 2018 provides opportunity for one individual to travel to Hong Kong and one to Jacksonville, FL.

Check us out at our website: http://cincinnati.cisvusa.org/ or for questions, please contact cisvcincinnati@gmail.com

The Process:  CISV has a thorough application and screening process for delegates and host families. This non-profit organization is able to keep program costs affordable with a strong volunteer base of dedicated families.  Travel costs are in the range of $1600-4000 (including travel and lodging), depending on length and location.  Need-based financial aid is available.

Information Nights are scheduled to provide you with more details.  Experienced families will be available to talk about their CISV experiences and answer questions. You will also hear from delegates who traveled abroad and how the unique experience that CISV has to offer shaped their outlook.  We have opportunities for children from age 11 and up.  The information nights are listed below and there is no need to register ahead. If you would like to begin the application process, materials can be found on the Cincinnati chapter site at www.cincinnati.cisvusa.org.  Applications are due December 15, 2017, for the year 2018 abroad season—spots are limited so please inquire soon.

Information Nights

Mon. Nov. 6, 2017 Information Night, Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian: 7-8 pm

Mon. Dec 4, 2017, Information Night, Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian: 7-8 pm

Location is at 5950 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45213. (CISV is not affiliated with Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian, but we thank them for the use of their facility.)

There is an Activity Day planned on Nov. 11 from 1-3pm at Summit Country Day Lower School on Convent Lane 45208. This is an opportunity for kids to try out CISV activities and meet other children who have traveled.

Applications are due December 15^th with interviews held January 20, 2018.

Check us out at our website: http://cincinnati.cisvusa.org/ or for questions, please contact cisvcincinnati@gmail.com.