Frequently Asked Questions
About CISV
CISV educates and inspires action for a more just and peaceful world.
- We appreciate the similarities between people and value their differences;
- We support social justice and equality of opportunity for all;
- We encourage the resolution of conflict through peaceful means;
- We support the creation of sustainable solutions to problems relating to our impact upon each other and the natural environment.
- Diversity
- Human Rights
- Sustainable Developement
- Conflict Resolution
CISV is about changing attitudes. Programs are interactive, action-oriented, sensitive to cultural variation, multilingual and fun. CISV favours ‘learning by doing’. This means learning through direct, personal experience, rather than from reading books or listening to lectures. It is the basic educational approach of all CISV Programmes and this process is also referred to as ‘Experiential Learning’.
“DO”, HAVE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE
“REFLECT” ON WHAT THEY HAVE DONE
“GENERALIZE” WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED
“APPLY” WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED
It is a camp-based programme for 11-year-olds lasting 28 days.
Each Village welcomes delegations from 10-12 countries. Each delegation has two boys and two girls, accompanied by an adult leader. The camp is coordinated by adult staff, supported by Junior Counsellors (age 16-17).
A youth meeting is a camp-based programme for 12-13 year-olds or 16-18 year-olds, lasting either 8 or 15 days.
Youth Meetings are for 25-35 participants coordinated by adult staff. Young people aged under 16 travel in delegations with an adult leader.
A step up is camp-based programme for 14-15 year olds, lasting 23 days. Step Up delegations come from nine countries and are comprised of four young people, 2 girls and 2 boys, who are accompanied by an adult leader. The camp is coordinated by adult staff.
Yes. There is one weekend in a host family at the beginning of the camp
A seminar is a camp-based programme for 17-18 year olds, lasting 21 days. Seminar Camps are for 30 international participants, with the supervision and assistance of international adult staff.
About Camps
About JC, Staff or leader
Leaders are asked to understand the purpose and goals of the Village programme. They participate in Village leader training and fulfil requirements. They plan and participate in appropriate activities and discussions for daily delegation time as leaders are bridges between the Village and their delegations. They participate actively in programme planning and evaluation processes in order to uphold CISV’s educational principles and meet the Village goals. They understand and fulfil practical responsibilities related to your role as leader (e.g., travel to and from the Village and stay in residence at the Village with your delegation as a legal guardian, substitute parent, and friend to your delegates). They adhere to guidelines and rules set by the host staff (e.g., communication, laundry, arrival/departure details) and local laws. They must be able to respond appropriately to problems/emergencies. Leaders must get to know your delegation and prepare them for the Village experience (with the help of Chapter/ families) by planning delegation activities, preparing booklets and national night, visiting families, introducing delegates to CISV, communicating with Village before arrival. They participate in and contribute positively to the leaders’ group. They help the delegates connect their Village experience to their home life after camp.
Take an active part in global peace education. What you learn from it? Cooperation, work with other cultures;new learning and teaching methods and approach; organization; communication; leadership;responsibility;increase your network at global level.
You are not alone: we provide training (how to organize an activity, deal with stressful situation, conflict management, risk management…). We offer support from local chapter (before, during, after the camp).
CISV is a volunteer-led organization and leaders do not receive a salary for their participation in CISV activities. However, travel costs are covered by the parents’ delegates. Leaders are required to pay their membership fee to CISV Switzerland.
The minimum age to be a leader or a staff in a CISV camp is 21.
You can apply for a junior staff position at 19.
Junior Counsellors are 16/17 years old and participate in villages. Because of their age, JCs are able to relate to both participants and adults and to act as a link between them.JCs are asked to understand the purpose and goals of the Village programme, participate in all activities addressed to the adult group and the participants, also finding ways to work without words in communicating with the participants; be inclusive: help all the participants and never show favouritism; participate actively in programme planning and evaluation processes in order to uphold CISV’s educational principles and meet the Village goals; do not exhibit an authoritarian role in relation to the participants; be a positive role model for the children.
Staff oversee and facilitate programme planning and evaluation processes to make sure that CISV’s educational principles and camp goals are met and upheld (e.g., facilitating and planning the leaders’ planning weekend in the camp, running effective camp meetings, helping the leader group plan and evaluate activities) . Their practical responsibilities include: be able to deal with problems in a discreet and responsible manner; manage all in-programme practical responsibilities (e.g., review and safely store forms, insurance, securely store passports and money, manage food and kitchen, organize site (set up, cleaning, safety); organize excursions; home-stay weekends; leader’s weekend; camp shop and finances; first aid; incident reports; email/letters and communication with home, etc.)
Staff liaise with local Chapter and organizing committee and know who to contact in case of a problem or emergency. They coordinate and liaise with JCs – facilitate communication, connection, and ‘group feeling’ for constructive group work. They coordinate and liaise with leaders – help with particular delegate/delegation issues, facilitate communication, connection and ‘group feeling’ for constructive group work. They communicate with national camp coordinator and regional delivery Team for Educational programmes
About CISV life in Switzerland
CISV’s Junior Branch members (JBers) are young local CISVers, who develop their intercultural and leadership skills through organizing and taking part in educational and social activities. JBers also often take an active role in the administrative responsibilities of their Chapters. Through their national and international network, JBers organize their own regional and international activities and events on a wide variety of themes, such as social justice and the environment.
We also organize a family day once a year. This is the perfect moment for you, as parent, to join a CISV activity and experiment what your child / younger has been doing during his CISV program. It is really important a fun to join this activity.