About CISV
Who are CISV’ers?
CISV is made up of volunteers of all ages, child delegates and the junior branch. We call ourselves CISV’ers! We are a diverse group of individuals from all over the world. If you see us out and about, you might think us a bit too silly and loud, but we always find ways to have fun while learning a thing or two and most definitely sharing them with you.
The Junior Branch
The Junior Branch or JB’ers are the young local CISV’ers who take part in planning, organising, and executing educational and social activities in their chapter. It is in this way that they continue to hone and develop their intercultural and leadership skills. JB’ers organise their own regional, international, and local activities like mini camps.
What exactly do we do?
In CISV, we learn by doing. We create and provide educational group activities and programmes to develop cross-cultural understanding in everyone. We embrace each one’s differences and try to develop understanding in one’s own culture and uniqueness. With the goal that participants may live out their lives as global citizens and strive for a more peaceful world. We believe that peace is possible through friendship and mutual understanding. Through our programmes, we hope to help all CISV’ers to develop skills to become open, responsible, and active individuals that seek to make a difference in their own communities and the world. Our purpose is to educate and inspire action for a more just and peaceful world. CISV has a vision of a more peaceful and just world and everyone has the responsibility to make this a reality. With this purpose, comes hand-in-hand with our values, which are Friendship, Inclusiveness, Enthusiasm, Engagement, and Cooperation.
How did we get started?
Child psychologist Dr. Doris Allen founded the Children’s International Summer Villages, or CISV as it is known today, in 1951. After World War II many were looking for ways to build and sustain peace and Dr. Allen’s imagination was sparked when she heard of a proposal for a UNESCO peace education institute for postgraduates. As a specialist in growth and development, she believed that peace education should not start with adults, but should start at a grass roots level, “the ultimate source for peace, long range, lay with the children” and so the idea for Children’s International Summer Villages was born. Dr. Allen envisioned bringing together children from all over the world to learn to respect different and common values and cultures. The first Children’s International Summer Village was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA in 1951 with delegations from eight countries. Now more than 50 years later, CISV has grown in participants, countries, and programmes. CISV operates in more than 60 countries, more than 190,000 people have participated in more than 5000 international activities. One of those 60 countries, is none other than the Philippines. You can get to know more about CISV Philippines, our chapters, and local activities, here!