TRAVELING ABROAD.
Ottawa west teen Johan Westeinde recently went to Forli, Italy as part of the Children’s International Summer Villages program.
K. Wallace Photo/ Ottawa This Week
For
14 year-old Johan Westeinde, the best part of going to Italy was the
food – as well as going to the beach often and eating gelato everyday.
The
west-end teen had a chance to live on a lavender farm in Flori, Italy
this past summer as part of the Children’s International Summer Villages
program.
“It’s
a really great experience,” said Johan. “If you can try it out, you probably
will like it.”
The Children’s International Summer
Villages, or CISV, gives
children the opportunity to visit a different country and take part in a wide
range of unique and educational group activities. These activities help develop
a cross-cultural understanding in children, youth and adults all around the
world.
The program offers a variety of ways
for youth to get involved, including the Interchanges program for 12 to 15
year-olds, the Summer Camps for 13 to 15 year-olds, Seminar Camps for 17 to 18
year-olds and Mosaic programs for all ages.
Johan
was involved in the Interchanges program where a teen his age from Italy stayed at his house in Ottawa
while Johan took his place on the farm in Italy for a month.
The
idea for the program started in 1946 when clinical psychologist Dr. Doris
Twitchell Allen’s young son asked his mother if he would have to be a soldier
when he grew up. A specialist in development and psychodrama, she thought up
the idea of children from different countries living together in camp-like
villages for a month. The first village was set up for 11 year-olds in Cincinnati, Ohio
in 1951.
Allen believed that the pre-adolescent stage in a person’s life had a huge
impact on what kind of people they would become. The theory is if children from
all parts of the world have the chance to live together, they would develop
cross-cultural friendships and would become more aware that everyone belongs to
the same human family – helping create peace in the world.
While
Johan admits that he missed his dog, he said the experience was a memorable one
and it has taught him how similar
cultural groups can be.
“He
was having way too much fun to miss us,” laughed his mom, Colleen.
Chris
McKillop from the organization, said CISV has been going strong for the past 50
years.
He
adds that safety isn’t a concern since there are group leaders, teachers and
young adults who work with the teens and run the events and activities.
Interviews
are also conducted with all the youth who apply.
“What
seems to work best are kids who are reasonably bright, kids who are open to a
new adventure, but there’s no standard kid,” he said. “We’re also looking for
ones who are interested in something new and something different.”
While
parents pay for their child’s flight, he said the organization tries to keep
costs low through fundraising.
CISV Ottawa will be holding
an information night on Friday, Dec. 3 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Sandy Hill
Community Centre. Parents and youth will be able to find out more about the
CISV and its programs for 2011.
“They come out of it with such an experience of what the
world out there,” said McKillop. “People talk about how it’s a small world and
people need to be part of a global village. This is that first step of being
part of a global village.”