23 Comments

23 Comments to Building Global Friendship = CISV = awesome!

1. by Rachel L.

   On April 12, 2012 at 7:29 pm

   I went to a Village when I was 11 and now I get the privilege to go again at age 16 as a Junior Counselor. It is an incredible experience and I recommend it for everyone. It teaches cultural differences and understanding them. It teaches us to be tolerant of race, gender, and customs. But most importantly, it teaches that we are all human beings and many of us have the same hopes, fears, and dreams that others have. I will never forget my CISV experiences and I truly did build global friendships.

2. by Marta Blanco

   On April 9, 2012 at 11:40 pm

   Being a long time CISVer, as all previous posts, I can’t wait to watch your film.

   There are many things my parents have taught me, but apart from their continuous and unconditional support, CISV is probably their greatest gift. All their values and principles together with the independence I needed to grow up. I am what I am because of CISV. I discovered a world map through the eyes of international friends. I have lived the world news though them, from the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, to several earthquakes that kept our breath until safe news came with the postman.

   While being representative of the Junior branch in my country back in 2004, the support of unknown friends around the world was stunning when we suffered the bombings in the trains of Madrid. Those lessons I had learnt, to see the world very closely from the distance, were also part of many many people, we had became global citizens.

   I have leant how to cook for 120 people, I have talked in public for 350, cried my heart out on departure gates, and laughed so hard that my face would hurt.

   As for my future children, I hope for a more fair world, and probably my happier and saddest day will be when they leave for their first CISV camp.

   When I was 11 my world changed. I started discovering the world, I started being a better person.

   Again, can’t wait to see your movie! Thanks for giving voice to such a beautiful age.

3. by Tommaso Nodari

   On March 22, 2012 at 12:55 pm

   Being 11 means being old enough to stay 4 weeks away from your parents, but young enough not to be too influenced by the prejudices of your family, social context and country. This is how we always start to explain the village program in the first CISV meeting of the year!

   I’m an active CISV since my Village as a participant in 1999 and it’s good to see that someone else outside of our smallworld noticed what we do!

   Looking forward to seeing your video

   Tommaso – CISV Milan – Italy

4. by Cande

   On March 19, 2012 at 12:41 pm

   WOW. AMAZING INDEED
   I won’t comment much as I agree with everything everyone said!!! CISV has indeed impacted incredibly in our lives and it would be an honor to be included in this promising film.

   I would like to make just one little comment. I see you mention CISV as meaning “Children’s International Summer Villages”. I just felt the need to clarify this and say that CISV has changed its name an its letter no longer mean what they used to. The former meaning made reference to an old conception of CISV, when nowadays we’re not only aiming at children, our programes are not only international and they are definitely not only during summer, for example. Instead, CISV has added a tagline to its logo which reads “Building Global Friendship”.

   I just wanted to clarify this so we can avoid calling it “Children’s International Summer Villages” in the future

   Once again,
   I’M EAGER TO WATCH THIS MOVIEEEE!!!!

5. by gen

   On March 17, 2012 at 10:11 am

   Yes Zak, we would love to! When I was 11 one of my best friends was from the Philippines. What city do you live in?

6. by Zak Yuson

   On March 14, 2012 at 4:05 pm

   Hi Genevieve!

   A lot of CISVers in the Philippines are really excited to see your documentary. Would you like to show it here?

7. by Trina Samaniego

   On March 7, 2012 at 6:08 am

   Absolutely wonderful! I’m an active CISVer from the Philippines and — I’m telling you — these 11-year olds are just the best. Our flagship program (Village) was created especially for them since it’s the best age for talking about thought-provoking matters and absorption of values. As we speak, you have no idea how much CISVers are passing around this link to your documentary. We all want to watch it.

8. by Carolina Muzzi

   On March 7, 2012 at 3:29 am

   OMG! talk about falling off chairs! I’m fell so hard it took me a while to recover!

   Your documentary and CISV are just the perfect combo and I am thrilled to hear about this amazing convergence!

   CISV has changed my life in a way I could have never imagined and I hope it’ll keep on making a difference worldwide!

   By the way, I was a leader in a National Village in 2011 where I met 2 kids from the brazilian delegation you met in Australia. (Carol Parente and Diogo Bueno)

9. by gen

   On March 6, 2012 at 4:26 am

   Yes Maxine we went to the Torquay camp just outside of Melbourne which is where we are based : )

10. by Rachel

    On February 29, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    I started in CISV when I was 11 years old & was a villager in Iceland in 1984. I will be turning 40 this fall. This past summer, my son was a CISV villager in Leeds. I have a 5 year old & when he turns 11- he’s the next on this great journey. I wish every child had this opportunity because I think this world would be a much better place.

11. by Joke Guijt

    On February 29, 2012 at 10:22 am

    YES CISV is Awesome! I’m now 42 and was at a 11 year old camp in my own country Netherlands (wijk aan zee) in 1981. Had a great 4 weeks with kids from all over the globe (like USA, Korea, Japan, Israel, Austria, Belgium, France and more) It was a beautiful lifechanging experience! When my son is that age I hope he will want to go to a summercamp like I did! Greetings from the Netherlands.

12. by Bill Heidrich

    On February 26, 2012 at 6:50 am

    i nearly fell out of MY chair when i saw this trailer! i’ve been involved with CISV since i was eleven in 1995.

    best of luck to you, and i can’t wait to see this film!

13. by Antoine

    On February 23, 2012 at 11:44 pm

    CISV is great, all kids should be part of this wonderful organization! CISV is more than making friends and learning about other cultures, CISV is about learning how to accept differences, how to understand other ways of doing things (that sometimes might be a better way). In CISV we learn not to judge someone or have prejudice just because he is different. In CISV we learn to LOVE our friends, and guess why we start with 11 year olds? Because they have no prejudice.

14. by Roosevelt Coopling (Araraquara/Brazil)

    On February 23, 2012 at 11:20 pm

    I am a CISVier too! Great documentary! I feel like I am eleven years old back again!

15. by Maxine

    On February 23, 2012 at 2:30 pm

    Which camp did you visit? Our chapter (in Canada) sent a junior counsellor to the village near Melbourne. That would be cool if it was the same camp you visited!!

16. by Floris van Elteren

    On February 23, 2012 at 1:32 pm

    Wow! The first thing I thought when I heard of this documentary was: My god, the director must be familiar with CISV, and if she isn’t let’s make her familiar with it as fast as possible. It’s great to see that I wasn’t the only one thinking this! I’ve only seen the trailer so far and it really captures those typical eleven-year-old reactions to things. Just wonderful!

    Veel succes, from the Netherlands!

17. by Katt

    On February 23, 2012 at 5:54 am

    I’m so glad that you got a chance to go to a Village! I’ve been involved with CISV since 2005 and have done four different Villages so far. Each one was incredible, and it’s been so amazing to keep in touch with the kids over the years and see all of the amazing things that they do with their lives. Everything that you can do to help us get the word out about the organization would be wonderful – it’s such a hidden gem!

18. by Michael Nowak

    On February 23, 2012 at 5:09 am

    EXCITED BEYOND WORDS!!!

    I am a student filmmaker and a CISVer from Dallas, Texas and I can not wait to see this film. I went to a Village in Sao Paulo, Brazil when I was eleven and know the importance of this age. It is something very hard to explain to people and I hope and know this film will capture that idea. Still today at 18 I remember so much from that age and can’t wait to start sharing what this “not a kid, but not a teenage” mindset can unlock.

    Michael Nowak
    CISV Dallas Fort Worth Chapter, USA
    Past Junior Branch President

    PS: I know the kids that traveled to that Australian camp.

19. by Björn

    On February 11, 2012 at 5:45 pm

    Hi!
    I’m really excited about this documentary and that you found out about CISV! We’re not really that good at being known outside our “bubble”, at least not in Sweden, so it’s great that someone told you!
    What would be the easiest way to see the whole thing? =)

20. by Manuela

    On February 11, 2012 at 2:01 pm

    CISV is a truely wonderful organisation leaving footprints for the better in children and youth’s hearts and minds.
    Come and have a look at our webpage http://www.cisv.org/.
    Get involved!
    You will be rewarded with a once in a life time experience and memory!

21. by Colleen Seymore

    On January 30, 2012 at 1:18 am

    AWESOME! As a CISV parent, I cannot say enough about the program and the wonderful experiences my children had. I am so glad you will be a part of each other’s lives!

22. by Nani Blanco

    On January 29, 2012 at 5:30 am

    Looking forward !!!

    Nani, Costa Rica Delegation
    CISV Camp Melbourne 2012

23. by Bobit Manzano

    On January 27, 2012 at 8:16 am

    Hi Genevieve,
    It was great having you visit the village and experience what CISV is all about. Thank you for taking the time to see and get a feel of the camp. It was a pleasure meeting and chatting with you.