Virtual Interchange with Brazil

CISV Jacksonville is offering a virtual interchange with CISV Sao Paolo Brazil for youth who are rising 7th or 8th graders. The virtual interchange will include a mix of in-person activities in Jacksonville with the Jacksonville families and virtual synchronous and asynchronous activities with youth and their families in Brazil.

Here are the benefits of virtual interchanges.

•  No international travel so safer from COVID

•  No air travel so much less expensive (there will be a small program fee but we don’t know yet how much that will be – much less than normal)

• Less immersive so less conflict with other things participants might want to do, such as travel with their family or participate in local activities (we anticipate some asynchronous activities and some synchronous meetings every week over a 4-6 week period in summer 2021)

• More potential to emphasize partnership with a local nonprofits  to advance CISV educational goals  – including conversation about a solution-oriented culminating presentation jointly prepared by both delegations — families invited

Apply here

Virtual Interchanges would aim to maintain these benefits of traditional, in-person Interchanges:

• Participants selected from chapters in delegations so youth and their families will get to know each other by planning some joint activities, helping to strengthen bonds within chapters

• One-to-one matching of delegates from the two countries, for communication and relationship-building across cultures

• Some level of communication among families of paired delegates; inclusion of families in some virtual Interchange activities, building enthusiasm for CISV among parents

• Deep dive into the culture of one partner country, rather than connecting with people from a range of countries

• Smaller number of people involved than with a CISV camp, which makes the whole program easier to manage

• Activities relating to CISV educational goals, organizational culture and themes

•  Trained adult leaders guiding delegations and helping delegations plan for months before the actual Interchange starts

• National nights organized by both delegations, with sharing of recipes and culture – families invited

Here’s a video about virtual exchanges generally that will help you understand these types of programs.