About CISV

CISV International is a global organization dedicated to educating and inspiring for peace through building inter-cultural friendship, cooperation and understanding. We have official relationship with UNESCO (NGO Partner), Council of Europe and European Youth Forum. Founded in 1950, today we are a federation of 69 Member Associations with over 200 Chapters or local groups.

In over 60 years we have given countless children and young people the experience of their lives and the opportunity to build lasting friendships through our international educational programmes – www. CISV.org

CISV Mission

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

CISV Values

Friendship, Inclusiveness, Enthusiasm, Engagement and Cooperation.

What Do We Do?

We create and provide a wide range of educational group programmes for individuals from around the world to develop leadership skills, cross-cultural understanding and learn how to live as friends. Our programmes are designed to equip participants with the attitudes, skills and knowledge to help them make meaningful contribution to the society. By encouraging respect for cultural difference and the development of self-awareness, CISV empowers each participant to incorporate these values into their lives as they become global citizens and strive for a more peaceful world.

How Did We Get Started?

Children’s International Summer Villages was founded by Dr. Doris Allen, a noted American psychologist, in 1950. In the decades since, CISV has held fast to her conviction that peace is possible if people can learn to live together as friends. Dr. Allen passionately believed that when children form meaningful friendships across cultural barriers, they can act as leaders, working to build respect for cultural diversity, human rights and our environment. Dr. Allen never wavered in her beliefs, and now, more than 60 years on, she remains an inspiration to the thousands of dedicated CISV volunteers – some 10,000 strong – who work to make her dream a reality.