Youth meeting (Age 12-13)

The Youth Meeting is a camp with 32 children with their Youth Leaders.

Your child forms a “delegation” with three other children and a Youth Leader from CISV Belgium. The delegation travels together to the Youth Meeting, where they will meet delegations from seven other countries. The Youth Meeting is planned and run by the adult staff of the hosting CISV Chapter and the Youth Leaders.

The Youth Meetings are build around themes that allow young people to explore intercultural issues in a regional context. Children’s own perspectives are shared, which inevidently bring to light personal and cultural differences. Differences are OK. Through games and discussions, mutual understanding, respect and appreciation for these differences blossom.

The programme fosters CISV values:

1. Friendship – We find a common bond and we are kind to each other.
2. Inclusiveness– We are open, culturally sensitive, we accept and respect people and cultures.
3. Enthusiasm – We bring energy and passion to everything we do.
4. Engagement– We show up, participate and learn with a positive attitude.
5. Cooperation – We work together and support each other toward our common goal.

Another part of the Youth Meeting is allowing the children to make the first steps in developing their leadership and organizational skills. The understanding children gain in this part of the Peace Programme help children contribute to their own community upon return.

As with all of our Peace Programmes, the emphasis of the Youth Meeting is on building intercultural friendships and learning while having fun!

TO BE CHECKED
During Village days the children have four activity periods. The type of activities evolve during the camps: starting from getting to know each other, to communicating cultural sensitivity. We explore ways to cooperating responsibility, building trust and giving the children a global perspective.

“National nights” are a traditional activity done at Villages. The purpose of national nights is to allow the delegates to share things about their home life and life in their country.

The “Open Day” is when the camp is open to the public for one day. It is the opportunity to show to the local chapter how the camp is going, to practice national dance and dress up in the traditional costumes. The Open Day is generally organized in the second half of the camp.

A Village day schedule may look like this:

• 08:15-10.00 Wake up, flag time and breakfast
• 10:00 Activity period 1
• 12:00 Free time
• 12:30 Lunch, siesta and free time
• 14:30 Activity period 2 and 3
• 17:00 Time for self-care
• 18:00 Spend time with delegation
• 19:00 Dinner
• 20:10 Activity period 4
• 21:15 Flag time and get ready for bed
• 22:30 Good night, lights off

The Youth Meetings are typically hosted at a school hostel that is vacant over the summer holidays. The children share a room with at least one other child of the same biological gender.

During the weekend children stay over at a host family. The host family is a member of the local CISV Chapter.

In line with our CISV values, we strive for mutual respect and equality. Kindly inform the Program Team about your child’s (tendency to) gender dysphoria so that we can anticipate on this.

Two weeks are needed to allow the children time to adjust to their new environment. Once they feel comfortable, the Peace Programme can focus on the learning objectives of the game.

While for some parents and caregivers tow weeks may seem long. Youth Meeting attendees often say that the weeks “flew by”.

Yes, the children’s designated supervisor is their delegation’s (adult) Youth Leader.  The Youth Meeting is planned and run by the adult staff of the hosting CISV Chapter and the Youth Leaders.

All adults who are physically present at the Youth Meeting and interact with the children are checked on good behavior following the child protection policy and procedures.

You will bring your child to an pre-agreed upon location to meet his/her delegation and (adult) Youth Leader. The Youth Leader then travels with the delegation of four children to the Youth Meeting by public transport. This can be by train, bus and/or airplane. The mode(s) of travel and itinerary are jointly decided upon by the parents and caregivers of the delegation’s children.

CISV has been successfully organising Youth Meetings since 1969. We have a child protection policy and procedures, which are regularly reviewed and updated.

CISV Belgium has its own additional child protection procedure that is in line with the Belgian national legislation and requirements.

Our child protection and risk management procedures ensure that:

• All programme staff and leaders are dilligently screened and police-checked, in line with national procedures and international standards
• All programme staff and leaders are locally selected and trained to international standards
• Confidential references are reviewed locally
• All children under 16 travel with an adult leader aged over 21
• Hosting families are carefully screened by CISV members

The cost of the Youth Meeting camp consist of three components, next to the CISV membership:

• Youth Meeting cost as set by hosting CISV Chapter. The Chapters aim to keep the fee standard. In 2024 the going-rate was €800 per child per Youth Meeting. This fee is “all-inclusive”, and covers: accommodation, three meals a day, drinks and snacks, supervision and entertainment.
• Travel cost for your child from home country to the hosting country and back. Please read “how will my child travel to the Youth Meeting” for more information.
• 25% of the Youth Leader’s travel costs, insurance, a national fee and an international fee.

Only children who are a CISV Belgium member are eligible to attend a  Youth Meeting. Our yearly membership fee is €80 per family. A CISV membership is non-binding for both parties; meaning, a membership (i) does not guarantee that your child can attend a  Youth Meeting nor (ii) binds your child to attend a  Youth Meeting.

The cost of attending a Youth Meeting in 2024 were:

First we need to explain, CISV is an international organisation with a so-called “Chapters” all around the world. Some countries have multiple Chapters. Each year, the Chapters decide for themselves whether or not they are going to organise a Youth Meeting.

The Youth Meeting is organised by adult volunteers, who are mostly parents and care-givers of current CISV members, as well as former CISV children who are now adults. The Youth Leaders of the eight attending delegation also contribute to the organisation of the camp.

CISV Belgium makes an inventory of the invitations received, which delegations they can form and can send out to Youth Meeting. Below you can read more about the formation of delegations and who can go where.

In February/March 2025, the CISV Belgium’s Programme Team, shares with its members:

• from which countries we have received Youth Meeting invitations
• which children form a delegation together
• which delegation attends which Youth Meeting (when and where)

Please read “How Youth Meetings are organised” and “Selection criteria” for more information on how the Program Team’s decision-making process, procedure and guidelines.

The Youth Meeting camps take place during the summer holidays. The exact starting date is determined by the host country. In February/March it is announced to which Youth Meetings our Belgian delegation are invited. We then receive the starting date and the Youth Meeting cost.

All camps are the same all over the world. Only the location, starting date and travel costs vary. CISV Belgium does not offer you the possibility to choose the Youth Meeting your child is going to attend.

However, when signing up for a CISV membership, you can opt for a “European destination” or an “Out-of-Europe destination”.

In 2025, CISV Belgium is not hosting a Youth Meeting; for sure, the Youth Meeting will be outside of Belgium.

A CISV Membership obliges your child and you to nothing. We can also not guarantee that your 12- or 13-year old can attend a Youth Meeting.

Please inform us when your child is having second thoughts in the lead up to the Sleepover Weekend in February. If your child in the end did enjoy the Sleepover Weekend in February, then (s)he can be certain that (s)he will enjoy the Youth Meeting abroad.

When the Sleepover Weekend proved to be “too much” then, please inform us immediately as the delegations are formed at this time. Once delegations are formed and assigned toa Youth Meeting it is difficult for us to make changes.

We strive to give all 12- and 13—year-old members the opportunity to attend a Youth Meeting abroad. It can occur that we have to make a selection between candidates for a Youth Meeting. In CISV Belgium, we apply the following selection criteria:

• Age: only 12- and 13—year-old members can attend a Youth Meeting.
• Maturity: your child needs to show a level of maturity congruent with her/his biological age.
• Motivation: at the CISV local meetings, our youth leaders observe your child’s attitude towards interacting with others and her/his engagement in the activities. It should be clear that your child enjoys our events as it’s a good precursor of how likely it is that your child will enjoy (similar activities at) a Youth Meeting abroad. Note, shyness and introversion are not selection criteria.
• Taking part in the preparation activities (critical): first, we only feel comfortable sending children abroad whom we believe will enjoy a Youth Meeting abroad. For this, we need to know your child and cannot send children abroad who we have never met. Secondly, at the local events, children can bond with other (potential) members of their delegation, giving children confidence and a sense of safety when going abroad. Thirdly, the local meetings prepares your child for a Youth Meeting abroad.

When all criteria mentioned above are met, we maintain the following prioritiy ruling:

• Family involvement: active involvement by the caregivers of our child members. CISV is a volunteer-based organisation; by supporting CISV, you give other children an opportunity to go abroad. It is in this spirit that children whose caregivers actively support CISV mission receive priority over others.
• Date of subscription: Children whose family membership have been completed, which includes membership fee payment, before 31 December of the previous year have priority to candidates that subscribed closer to the starting date of the Youth Meeting.
• Belgium-based: while we do not look at candidates’ nationality, we do give priority to children living in Belgium.

When all criteria mentioned above are met, we maintain the following prioritiy ruling:

• Family involvement: active involvement by the caregivers of our child members. CISV is a volunteer-based organisation; by supporting CISV, you give other children an opportunity to go abroad. It is in this spirit that children whose caregivers actively support CISV mission receive priority over others.
• Date of subscription: Children whose family membership have been completed, which includes membership fee payment, before 31 December of the previous year have priority to candidates that subscribed closer to the starting date of the Village.
• Belgium-based: while we do not look at candidates’ nationality, we do give priority to children living in Belgium.

Taking part in the local events prepares your child for her/his Youth Meeting experience abroad. These meetings help your child get acquainted with CISV and meet peers with whom (s)he may form a delegation.

We consider these meetings mandatory. It allows us to observe who seems motivated and ready to go abroad independently and which children have a natural attraction to one another.

A so-called Delegation Hang Out is organised for a delegation that will go to a Youth Meeting. This event allows the children to get to know each other better prior to their adventure abroad. The hang out is organised by the youth leader and is only with the delegation.

Our goal is to form delegations of children who will enjoy attending a Youth Meeting abroad.

Typically, the meetings take place on a Sunday afternoon, once a month during the school year.

In autumn a family day is hosted for children and parents and care-givers to meet one another.

In the beginning of the year a weekend away within Belgium is organised. This weekend allows the youth leaders and the children to spend quality time together and really get to know each other. Participation is mandatory with only school travel obligations or sickness being a valid exception.

The common language at the CISV Youth Meeting is English. The stronger your child’s English comprehension and speaking abilities the more likely it is (s)he can make friends and will enjoy the Youth Meeting.

We encourage you to make your child familiar with English, boosting their (social) confidence when abroad. Though the camp is not a language camp, the international experience will improve your child’s English tremendously in a short period of time.

We invite parents and care-givers to come and meet us at multiple occassions throughout the year. These occassions are indicated on the calendar. CISV Belgium representatives are happy to introduce you to our organisation and answer all your questions.

There are several information sessions for parents and care-givers and we advise you attend all meetings.

Usually the last weekend of September, we convene a general information session.

In February/March, at the start of the preparation weekend, we hold a second information session where we provide preliminary costs of camps and ask parents and care-givers to confirm whether you expect your child to go in Europe (this includes Belgium in 2025) or outside Europe.

In March, we convene a meeting to announce who will be attending a Youth Meeting, with whom your child forms a delegation, the location, starting date and cost of the  Youth Meeting.

The Program Team is happy to answer your questions. You can reach us at: info-participants@cisv.be

Please take into account that the Program Team consists of volunteers, mostly parents and care-givers of CISV members. We wholeheartedly support the CISV Peace mission while juggling a busy family and work life. We do our best to answer your question as soon as possible.