A student exchange program that involves family<\/p>\n
By Hyginus Hardoyo<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Are you looking for an international student
\nexchange program which also involves the participation of members
\nof the family?<\/p>\n
If you are, learn about the Children's International Summer
\nVillages (CISV), a charitable organization designed to explore
\nrelevant themes through short term, nonformal educational
\nactivities in local, national and international context.<\/p>\n
Milly B. Sartono, president of CISV Indonesia, told The
\nJakarta Post that CISV offered opportunities for youngsters,
\nadults and families to make new friendships worldwide.<\/p>\n
For the students taking part in the program, the benefits are
\nobvious in that they are able to broaden their knowledge through
\nvarious activities jointly carried out with their foreign
\ncounterparts, while at the same time their parents can also
\nactively be involved in the organization.<\/p>\n
\"I spend my spare time participating actively at CISV because
\nI agree with the objective of the organization -- to help foster
\nunderstanding and friendship for the sake of creating a peaceful
\nworld,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"At CISV I learn how to be punctual and settle conflicts
\namicably without forcing your will on others,\" said Milly, a
\nproject coordinator at PT Cipta Strada, a company which
\nspecializes in the planning and supervision of road and bridge
\nconstruction.<\/p>\n
Milly explained that when she joined the organization she was
\nmade team leader of a group of ten 13-year-olds in an interchange
\nprogram to the U.S. in 1994.<\/p>\n
Milly, a mother of two grown-up boys, said after returning
\nfrom America she became more involved in the organization's
\nactivities and was appointed to hold the two-year presidency of
\nthe CISV Indonesia in 1999.<\/p>\n
CISV, whose staff members are all volunteers, is an
\nindependent, nonpolitical organization promoting peace and cross-
\ncultural friendship, she said.<\/p>\n
Founded by Doris Allen, a psychologist at the University of
\nCincinnati, USA, in 1950, it is a charitable organization
\nindependent of any government, political party, religious body or
\nother organizations.<\/p>\n
According to a 1999 record, it had over 148,000 participants
\nfrom nearly 100 countries.<\/p>\n
Milly, who was accompanied by Maria Surjadi and Joedomo
\nSetyawan, respectively chairpersons of two chapters under CISV
\nIndonesia, said the organization strived to stimulate development
\nof amicable relationships, effective communications skills,
\ncooperation and leadership qualities.<\/p>\n
Maria explained that the organization had various programs
\nincluding the village program, interchange program, international
\nsummer camps and seminar camps.<\/p>\n
The village program is a four-week international camp. Each
\ndelegation consist of two girls and two boys aged 11 accompanied
\nby one adult. The delegates come from 12 nations.<\/p>\n
This multilanguage camp features a mixture of educational,
\ncultural and sports activities which emphasize cooperation, and
\nglobal and intercultural living. In a natural way, the children
\nare made to realize that the differences among them are less
\nimportant than the similarities that bind them together.<\/p>\n
The interchange program is a bilateral, family-centered
\nexchange between two international CISV chapters. The
\nparticipants are children from age 12 to 15.<\/p>\n
They visit their counterparts of the same age, sex and general
\ninterest in another country for about three weeks and in the
\nfollowing year they will host their counterparts at their homes.<\/p>\n
This program is designed to enable the whole family to form
\nlasting friendships and learn about another way of life and
\nculture.<\/p>\n
The summer camp is a multicultural camp, which develops a
\nparticular educational theme through international activities and
\ndiscussions with emphasis on youth leadership.<\/p>\n
\"In addition to the various programs, there is also a local
\nwork program which involves the participation of local people,\"
\nMaria said. This program is designed to accommodate members who
\nwere not selected to go overseas.<\/p>\n
She said the local work activities are designed to promote
\npeace. In Indonesia some of the themes have been \"Getting close
\nto nature\", \"Helping the poor\" and \"Preventing drug addiction\".<\/p>\n
Joedomo, a lecturer at Satyagama University, said he was
\nsatisfied with CISV's activities as seen in the development of
\nhis daughter.<\/p>\n
\"The activities in this organization have made my daughter
\nmore independent. She joined the overseas program twice at the
\nage of 12 and 15, respectively. At the age of 17 she decided that
\nshe wanted to go to Australia for studies and she is there until
\nnow,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Eko M. Kartodirdjo, the father of three children who had also
\njoined the program, shared Joedomo's views, saying his children
\nhave become more confident of speaking in public.<\/p>\n
\"You see, one of the two girls leading the ceremony is my
\ndaughter,\" he said, referring to the rehearsal at the Kanisius
\nschool complex in Jakarta by 84 students, who are scheduled to
\ntake part in overseas programs between June and July.<\/p>\n
At the rehearsal, each group presented a number of activities,
\nincluding dances, songs and poetry reading in front of their
\nparents.<\/p>\n
After the presentation, the parents evaluated their
\nperformance and advised them on how to behave during their stay
\nabroad.<\/p>\n
It's an ongoing program. This year they are going abroad and
\nnext year it will be their turn to host their counterparts at
\ntheir homes. It means all members of the family will be involved
\nagain.<\/p>",
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