The first Jacksonville Village
It takes a VILLAGE to host a VILLAGE
CISV has a long history in the Jacksonville area. In the mid-1970’s, Dorothy Groshell (CISV Jacksonville founder) read an article in The Saturday Review entitled “Catch Them While They’re Young,” and was excited by the opportunities CISV could offer her young sons. Since there was no Chapter in Jacksonville, she started one (it is one of 26 chapters in the US).
The first Interchange with El Salvador was in 1976. Jacksonville’s first Village was held in 1978 at the Bartram School campus.
The first CISV Village in Florida was held in Jacksonville from June 30-July 27, 1978. Delegations from 12 countries participated: Belgium, Costa Rica, England, Finland, France, Guatemala, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Norway, Sweden and the US. Seven Junior Counselors attended from Japan, Philadelphia, Martinique, Miami County Ohio, and three from Jacksonville. Dr. Doris Allen, founder of CISV, attended and helped create this film: “Children Under the Sun.”Click the video below to see footage of CISV Jacksonville’s first village. Most of the narration is by CISV Founder Doris Allen. She explains in her own words why CISV begins with children.
Since then, Villages have been held in Jacksonville in 1978, 1980, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2019. There are also a variety of local programs.
CISV is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and 100% volunteer-powered.
Questions? Please just e-mail us or call 904.646.7740. We are happy to help.