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.
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 15th
with interviews held January 20, 2018.
Check us out at our website: http://cincinnati.cisvusa.org/ or for questions,
please contact cisvcincinnati@gmail.com.
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