Article Contributed on: 10/17/2006 11:17:19 AM
We've all heard the expression that it "takes a village to raise a child." But in the case of Children's International Summer Villages, some my say it takes a child to build a village.
Children's International Summer Villages is a non-profit, non-political, non-denominational all-volunteer organization that for over a half-century has been laying the groundwork for peace.
Founded in 1951 by University of Cincinnati psychologist, Dr.
Doris Allen, CISV has grown into worldwide organization that has helped over 200,000 young people learn to bridge cultural differences and forge relationships by spending a month together learning through play.
In 1991, the Rocky Mountain Denver Chapter of CISV was formed by three women, from different U.S. cities who were lifetime CISVers. Since founded, CISV has sent over 50 delegations of Denver youth to international peace villages in countries ranging from Jordan, Spain, Norway, Finland and India to Thailand, Japan, Australia and Canada.
Denver has also hosted two international villages in our city. Last summer the Rocky Mountain Denver chapter hosted over 70 international guests - consisting of two 11-year-old boys, two 11-year-old girls and an adult leader from Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Guatemala, Iceland, Indonesia, Italy, Norway, Thailand and United States. There are also five staff and five junior counselors from Brazil, Czech Republic, Mexico, Ukraine and the United States.
In a world where peace is such a fragile commodity and intolerance is all too rampant, we believe the CISV Village experience plays a vital role in advancing cultural understanding and international friendship, said
Caryn Cheyfitz, the CISV volunteer planner who headed all planning for the Denver Village.
These young international guests are living together in Denver for three-weeks to experience educational, cultural activities that foster cooperative multi-cultural communication. The delegates participate in structured activities that advance CISV ideals. Activity themes include communication, cooperation and conflict resolution.
"Each day the children begin to realize that the differences between them are less important that the liknessses that bind them together," said
Josh Rau, the Village Director and a teacher at Littleton Academy.
Denver's international peace village is one of 60 CISV Villages being held around the world during the summer of 2006. Because Denver is serving as the host of this village, the chapter was able to send eight Denver 11-year-olds to CISV Villages in Spain and Germany.
"Our chapter worked very hard for the last three years to raise enough money to host all of these children, explained
Elisa Moran, president of the Denver CISV Chapter. "We are so pleased to see this successful result."
The CISV Village day ends with children and staff holding hands in a circle as the CISV flag is lowered. Together, they sing the CISV song which begins with "Here in this village you may see, children living happily. Different race and different land, here we come to understand."
CISV is a unique independent, non-profit, non-political volunteer organization that offers children and adults the opportunity to make new friendships worldwide and understand and appreciate different cultures.
CISV Denver also held a CISV mini-camp following the Columbine tragedy bringing together local youth of different backgrounds both socioeconomic and geographical. Other mini-camps have been held at schools throughout the Denver area to help groups of young people understand differences and accept all people regardless of their background.
The all-volunteer Denver chapter hopes to raise funds to hold another peace village in Denver in the next two years and continue to run mini-camps locally. Also, each year, the chapter works to send delegates to international programs worldwide.
Denver residents who are interested in participating in CISV's 2007 programs may contact the local recruiting chair betsymhenry@gmail.com.