Start your CISV story!

Founded over 60 years ago, CISV International is a global organization dedicated to educating and inspiring action for peace.

Our innovative, fun, non-formal peace education ‘learning by doing’ programmes begin with our original and unique Village programme for 11-year-olds. We offer an exciting blend of seven international camp-based, family exchange and local community programmes. We aim to help our participants develop the skills they need to become informed, responsible and active global citizens and make a difference in their communities and the world. Every year our amazing volunteers organize our programmes for over 10,000 participants.

Every CISVer, past and present, has a great story to share! Whether we are currently involved with CISV or were involved many years ago, whether we have been involved as a participant or a volunteer – or both – our experience with CISV is one we will never forget.

There are many ways to explain about CISV, but the best way to start is to share our own stories. Every CISV story has a beginning. Reading our CISV stories could be the start of yours!

To find out more about CISV near you, visit Our World

My love for CISV started after my daughter returned from her Village in the USA in 1984. Her wonderful experience inspired us all to become a CISV family and take part in CISV activities Locally, Nationally and Internationally.
At the age of 50 I took four 11 year old children to a Village in Perth, Australia—an unforgettable experience.
In 1995 I had the honour of being elected President of CISV and held that position for six years. I then had the privilege of meeting and talking to Doris Allen and hearing her give a very inspirational speech.
I feel what little I have given to CISV has enriched my life more than I could ever explain and I now have CISV friends all over the world.

David Lister – CISV Great Britain

My CISV story started in 1994 when I begged my mum to drive me through the snow in Hull, Great Britain to attend an information night about a camp with kids from all over the world. 22 years later I’m thinking of all the people I’ve met and the challenges CISV has brought into my life and it’s just incredible.
I’m now living in Australia working with my husband to build a Chapter here in Sydney, yes, he’s a CISVer originally from Egypt, so we really took “Building Global Friendship” seriously! I thank CISV for the life it has brought me and for the people I have met and worked with along the way.

Emma Powell – CISV Australia

Back in 1990 I sat in a boring lecture at university. Along came a question whether I was able to repair bikes? I answered: yes! And suddenly I found myself attending an Interchange Mini-Camp – by bike. I don’t remember if I ever had to repair a bike really, but I got inspired through the activities – and a year later I became Interchange Leader myself. Throughout various programmes and positions, CISV gave me the opportunity to learn tolerance and to develop my leadership skills; just the right portion of humility I need in my day-to-day job as well.

Frank Steffen – CISV Germany

I sometimes think I’m getting too old for CISV (I’m 65 now) – but I just can’t stop. CISV is such a big part of my life and one of my life goals is to spread the CISV idea.
It all started in 1971 when I was asked to be the leader to a Village in Leeds in Great Britain. The year after it, I went to a Village in Halmstad in Sweden. I was so excited about the CISV idea that I started the CISV Chapter Linz and since that time, I have never stopped working for it. I was leader and camp director in more Villages, Chapter President in the 70s and 80s and still – to this day – I do all the administrative work for our Chapter. And of course all my children also attended CISV Programmes. And as time flies – this year in summer, my granddaughter Sophia will go to her Village – in Leeds. Do you realize? A Village in Leeds? That’s where my CISV story began …

Inge Ertl-Zeier – CISV Austria

My CISV life started in 2000 when I was 21. I took four 13 year olds to a Summer Camp and came home as a different person. I couldn’t imagine how much that event would impact my whole life. Since then, I have participated in 12 international camps, in more than 20 international meetings and in countless national events, taking on different roles within the Organization. The highest moment was when, with a restricted but incredibly talented group of people (that I still call my “CISV family”), we reformed the Summer Camp Programme and created the Step Up as we all know it today. In 2006 I met my wife in a CISV camp in Canada and a few years later our first child was born. He already knows every CISV song by heart and can’t wait to go to a camp and see where it all started.

Max Crudeli – CISV Italy

I started my CISV journey at 11 when I went to my very first Village. It changed everything for me; the way I saw the world, the way I saw other people and the way I saw myself. I remember realizing that there was no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ – it started with realizing that there was no ‘wrong’ or ‘right’ way to eat (which my mom had always said there was…), because everyone was eating differently, but that was just what they had been taught. Later it went on to realizing there was no ‘wrong’ or ‘right’ way to see the world. I joined many programmes, became a staff and later a trainer. I even had the chance to see the behind the scenes of CISV, which made me realize how many inspiring people are part of making CISV. They live their life differently, but we have also have things in common, because we all live the CISV lifestyle – curious, open, caring, restless, amazed and inspired.

Florentine Versteeg-Vedana – CISV Brazil

My CISV experience started when I was 11 and went to a Village in Norway. I didn’t speak English at that time and wasn’t really sure what I was getting myself into.
Now 23 years old, after a Village, a Summer Camp and a Seminar Camp, combined with my involvement in Junior Branch (JB), I can safely say that CISV helped me develop into the person I am today. It showed me the huge impact that sharing and talking to other individuals, from different countries and cultures other than your own, can have on someone.
CISV’s educational approach and dedication to youth is what keeps me motivated and willing to stay highly involved. Today, I share the energy and dynamism of JBers around the world – from whom I am lucky to learn every day – and truly feel I am part of a global movement. This feeling is reinforced as I still get the chance to attend several CISV meetings with people who have now become good friends.

Gaspard Simon – CISV France

Next year it will be 60 years since my CISV experiences started – that is so hard to believe – but back in 1957 I was in the group travelling by boat from Newcastle upon Tyne to Oslo to take part in a CISV Village. That Village experience has influenced the whole of my life. Later I was in an Interchange – again with partners from Oslo. I have kept in touch with my own partner and visited several times. I enjoyed time with several Norwegian CISV friends after the Global Conference last year and my partner will visit Newcastle again later this year. I made many of my friends in my home area through my participation in CISV as a leader, Village staff, in committee work at local and national level and I have friendship contacts around the world from joining CISV International Committees. As National Secretary for the last few years I am in contact with so many people and the work ensures that I am still able to keep busy in my retirement from teaching. Receiving an award from CISV in 2012 was completely unexpected and a really special event for me. Yes, CISV has been a BIG part of my life!

Jennifer Watson – CISV Great Britain

My story starts with a 10-year old girl with strong convictions and reserved nature who participated in a CISV mini-camp one weekend in Calgary. She came home bursting with excitement about the people she’d met and what she had learned. After this experience she was determined to participate in a Village, which led to Interchange, Step Up, Youth Meeting, Junior Counselor, Junior Counselor Trainer, Seminar Camp and this year my daughter, Tessa, at 20 will be a Junior Leader for Interchange. Participating in her journey and watching her develop into a confident young woman who speaks up for her convictions drew me in to a world where I am now involved locally, nationally and internationally with some of the most inspiring and competent individuals that I have ever had the pleasure to work with and learn from. The youth, in particular, amaze me with their insightful, thought-provoking, and innovative ideas.

Lynn Faris – CISV Canada

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Do you already have a CISV story to tell? Share your story with us in the comments below or send us an email to communications.team@cisv.org