A student exchange program that involves family
By Hyginus Hardoyo
JAKARTA (JP): Are you looking for an international student exchange program which also involves the participation of members of the family?
If you are, learn about the Children's International Summer Villages (CISV), a charitable organization designed to explore relevant themes through short term, nonformal educational activities in local, national and international context.
Milly B. Sartono, president of CISV Indonesia, told The Jakarta Post that CISV offered opportunities for youngsters, adults and families to make new friendships worldwide.
For the students taking part in the program, the benefits are obvious in that they are able to broaden their knowledge through various activities jointly carried out with their foreign counterparts, while at the same time their parents can also actively be involved in the organization.
"I spend my spare time participating actively at CISV because I agree with the objective of the organization -- to help foster understanding and friendship for the sake of creating a peaceful world," she said.
"At CISV I learn how to be punctual and settle conflicts amicably without forcing your will on others," said Milly, a project coordinator at PT Cipta Strada, a company which specializes in the planning and supervision of road and bridge construction.
Milly explained that when she joined the organization she was made team leader of a group of ten 13-year-olds in an interchange program to the U.S. in 1994.
Milly, a mother of two grown-up boys, said after returning from America she became more involved in the organization's activities and was appointed to hold the two-year presidency of the CISV Indonesia in 1999.
CISV, whose staff members are all volunteers, is an independent, nonpolitical organization promoting peace and cross- cultural friendship, she said.
Founded by Doris Allen, a psychologist at the University of Cincinnati, USA, in 1950, it is a charitable organization independent of any government, political party, religious body or other organizations.
According to a 1999 record, it had over 148,000 participants from nearly 100 countries.
Milly, who was accompanied by Maria Surjadi and Joedomo Setyawan, respectively chairpersons of two chapters under CISV Indonesia, said the organization strived to stimulate development of amicable relationships, effective communications skills, cooperation and leadership qualities.
Maria explained that the organization had various programs including the village program, interchange program, international summer camps and seminar camps.
The village program is a four-week international camp. Each delegation consist of two girls and two boys aged 11 accompanied by one adult. The delegates come from 12 nations.
This multilanguage camp features a mixture of educational, cultural and sports activities which emphasize cooperation, and global and intercultural living. In a natural way, the children are made to realize that the differences among them are less important than the similarities that bind them together.
The interchange program is a bilateral, family-centered exchange between two international CISV chapters. The participants are children from age 12 to 15.
They visit their counterparts of the same age, sex and general interest in another country for about three weeks and in the following year they will host their counterparts at their homes.
This program is designed to enable the whole family to form lasting friendships and learn about another way of life and culture.
The summer camp is a multicultural camp, which develops a particular educational theme through international activities and discussions with emphasis on youth leadership.
"In addition to the various programs, there is also a local work program which involves the participation of local people," Maria said. This program is designed to accommodate members who were not selected to go overseas.
She said the local work activities are designed to promote peace. In Indonesia some of the themes have been "Getting close to nature", "Helping the poor" and "Preventing drug addiction".
Joedomo, a lecturer at Satyagama University, said he was satisfied with CISV's activities as seen in the development of his daughter.
"The activities in this organization have made my daughter more independent. She joined the overseas program twice at the age of 12 and 15, respectively. At the age of 17 she decided that she wanted to go to Australia for studies and she is there until now," he said.
Eko M. Kartodirdjo, the father of three children who had also joined the program, shared Joedomo's views, saying his children have become more confident of speaking in public.
"You see, one of the two girls leading the ceremony is my daughter," he said, referring to the rehearsal at the Kanisius school complex in Jakarta by 84 students, who are scheduled to take part in overseas programs between June and July.
At the rehearsal, each group presented a number of activities, including dances, songs and poetry reading in front of their parents.
After the presentation, the parents evaluated their performance and advised them on how to behave during their stay abroad.
It's an ongoing program. This year they are going abroad and next year it will be their turn to host their counterparts at their homes. It means all members of the family will be involved again.