CISV Pittsburgh

CISV educates and inspires action for a more just and peaceful world.

CISV Wants Your Feedback on Major Program Changes

by CISV Pittsburgh

CISV International has recommendations for program changes that will go before national associations for approval, some as early as this spring. These proposals were developed through a 2-year process, with several opportunities for membership engagement.

CISV USA board of directors will be voting on these motions and would like feedback from chapters and members across the country.

Our chapter will discuss these changes at two upcoming meetings:

After our normal chapter meeting (3:00-4:30 pm)
Sunday February 2 from 4:30-5:30 pm
New Church School
299 Le Roi Road
Pittsburgh 15208

During a joint adult and JB board meeting
Thursday, February 6 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm
320 S. Lexington Street
Pittsburgh 15208

All are welcome to attend.

Please email the Chapter Co-President with questions.

Please review the information. Consider changes separately since they will be presented individually for a vote.’

Fill out the CISV USA survey link which will be active through Feb.

Below are the major changes proposed: (none of these proposed changes would impact 2020 programs)
  • Focus on programs for children and youth (i.e. under 18)
  • Offer an educational pathway that will have 3 phases:
  • Phase 1: 11-15 Participation
  • Phase 2: 16-17 Leadership development opportunities
  • Phase 3: 18+ Leadership roles
  • Focus on offering camp-based programs, one type for each age group
  • Ensure that each program offers a high quality, consistent and complete educational experience
  • Ensure that our programs have a clear narrative that links them, but that each program still stands on its own

VILLAGE

  • Shorten Village length to no more than 23 days to make it easier to host, find staff and leaders, and to grow. We believe that a new curriculum and content will allow us to maintain and even increase impact on participants within the shorter time period.
  • Allow more than one junior staff, as long as there are more ‘senior’ than junior staff in total (lower junior staff age requirement to 18).

INTERCHANGE

  • Phase out Interchange

STEP UP

  • Add an extra delegation (10 total) to increase opportunities
  • Stop Youth Meetings for ages 14-15
  • Allow more than one junior staff, as long as there are more ‘senior’ than junior staff in total
  • Lower junior staff age requirement to 18 for Step Ups aimed at 14-year old participants (retain the age requirement of 19 for junior staff in Step Ups for 15-year old participants)

YOUTH MEETING

  • All Youth Meetings will be for ages 12 or 13
  • Eliminate Youth Meetings for ages 14-15 and 16-18.
  • All Youth Meetings will be two weeks long – eliminate 8-day programs
  • 4 instead of 6 participants per delegation
  • Clearly differentiate the program from Village and Step Up, with new curriculum and content.
  • Add four Junior Counsellors
  • Allow more than one junior staff, as long as there are more ‘senior’ than junior staff in total (lower junior staff age requirement to 18)
  • Increase number of delegations to 8

SEMINAR

  • Make Seminar Camp for ages 16-17 (not ages 17-18)
  • Decrease it from 3 to 2 weeks; a minimum of 14 days and no more than 16 days (14 days of participant-led content)
  • Continue Seminar Camp model, but increase risk management – specifically prohibit post-camp activities between staff and participants