peacissimo!

(PEES-EES-imo!)

CISV Belgium Summer Village

2011

Precamp 3
MESSAGE FROM THE STAFF

Since we sent out precamp 2, we’ve been in touch with almost all of
you and started to get a sense of who you are. We can’t wait to
welcome you to Brussels in less than two months, and unleash the
peacissimo!

A word about the theme: Your feedback on it is much appreciated. It

seems everyone has a good vibe about the theme, and plenty of
ideas about how to make it come alive. It’s the staff’s job to create
the theme, but all the leaders together—delegation leaders, JCs, and
staff—will implement it, and we’re very excited to see what kind of
direction you all will take this big idea. If you have any more
questions or feedback in advance, we want to hear it.

And a word about forms: Have you noticed that we seem to be obsessing about forms? Sorry
for all the harassment. But it makes it so much easier to ensure everything is organized in
advance if we have as much information from you as possible. The travel forms and details
about health and diet issues are most urgent, but the sooner you can submit your whole
package of forms (leaders and JCs), the better. And of course, if you’ve been following us on
Facebook and know about the Choconcours, you’ll know there’s an added incentive to get your
stuff in first . . . 

As always, we love to hear from you. You know how to reach us: on Facebook at our village
page (Peacissimo! Village in Wemmel 2011), by email at peacissimo@gmail.com, and on Skype
(add Michael, ID: mijawara). We’re counting down the sleeps!

Peacissimo!
Your Staff Team

Michel

Vincent

Michael

Marion

MICHELLE

& MéliSSA

Peacissimo! Village 2011 Precamp 3 Page 2

MESSAGE TO PARENTS

We know that your child is coming in our CISV Village this summer. We are very excited about
the idea of meeting him/her and welcoming him to our Peacissimo! camp. We are sure that this
village will be meaningful for children, JC’s and adults. The Belgium Chapter of CISV is working
very hard and doing its best to make this Village a success. We want children to realize that it is
possible and normal to make friends among children of other countries and to live in peace. We
also hope that you will encourage your child to participate in our peace-fostering activities,
open his/her mind to other people in the Village, and see each one as a new and everlasting
friend.

You might want to ask some questions about the Village or the Village staff. We have sent pre-
Village information to the delegation; if you still have questions, please write to us. As a parent
of a child delegate, you will need to assist your child before and after the village. You will need
to help your child prepare for the Village experience by equipping him or her with everything
needed, meeting with the other members of the delegation, and cooperating with the
delegation leader.

Your child will also need your help and support after returning home from the Village. He/she
will want to tell you all about the experiences and will need your guidance in relating these
experiences to everyday life. Be prepared that your child may have changed somewhat during
the village. He/she may seem different, more confident, and more mature. He/she will want to
keep in touch with many new friends by writing many emails and letters. He/she should be
encouraged to play a full and active part in the CISV activities of the local chapter following the
Village experience. Just as in any other facet of education, parents have a vital role to play and
should give their child their full support, both now and in the years to come. We would like to
ask you to talk to your child about respecting the differences between all villagers.

We also would like to ask you to be respectful of the rules of the Village about communication:
you will be able to call and talk on the phone to the adult delegate in case of emergency, but
not to your own child. In Belgium, there is a famous saying: “no news, good news “. We hope
that you understand our requests.

One last suggestion: you may want to write some letters to your child and send them to the
Village address (included in the pre-camps) about a week before the Village starts. This way, the
villager will begin receiving mail from you right away!

Please, tell your child that we are happy to have the opportunity to live that wonderful
experience with him/her and that he/she will be most welcome in our worldwide CISV family.

Peacissimo!

The Village Staff: Michel, Mélissa, Marion, Michelle, Michael, and Vincent

Peacissimo! Village 2011 Precamp 3 Page 3

ABOUT OUR ROLES

Host staff

We see our role in this Village as a team, not only dealing with the practical matters of Village
life, but also assisting leaders, JCs and children in carrying our suitable CISV program ideas. We
will try our best to see that things run as smoothly as possible and hope that you feel
comfortable to come to us to discuss any needs, concerns or problems. We consider ourselves
also the custodians of the theme and CISV educational aims that make our Village so different
from an ordinary summer camp.

Leaders

We see the leaders’ role as providing ideas, leadership and total participation in the program.
Participation includes helping to create the activities, evaluating, suggesting improvements and
attending the activities others have prepared. The leaders at the camp make an example for the
children. The way the leaders interact and participate will determine the way the children also
interact and participate. We do not expect anyone to be SUPER-HUMAN, but we do expect that
you are willing to participate fully in the Village life. Equally important is our responsibility
towards each child’s safety, health and welfare. We ask that you get acquainted with the children
to be sensitive to their basic needs for adequate diet, sleep, physical and behavioural well-being.

Junior Counsellors

The JCs will be an important link between the children, adult leaders and staff. To the children,
you are their closest role model and they may look to you as an example and as a good friend.
The adult leaders may ask you to assist with their delegations and program responsibilities. You
will be expected to help the staff with some of their general duties too. With this special role in
mind, we encourage the JCs to be involved in discussions, activities, and certain responsibilities
in the same capacity as all leaders. So, we are counting on you, JCs, to bring your energy,
enthusiasm and commitment to help create a positive CISV experience for our villagers.

Kids

We will do our best to plan a very memorable experience for you at the camp. But the challenge
will be yours to get the most out of the experience by making as many friends as you can during
the whole month. In turn, you can help us to get to know you better by sharing your ideas and
participating in activities that are planned for everyone. You will need to be creative so that
children from different countries who do not speak the same language as you will be able to
work together and have just as much fun!

Peacissimo! Village 2011 Precamp 3 Page 4

A LAST WORD ABOUT THE THEME, AND SOME REMINDERS

Peacissimo? Peacissimo!

In precamp 2, we told you a bit about the theme. Peacissimo is an idea—that music and dance
are universal languages enabling people from different places and backgrounds to understand
each other. And it’s a word—for something that’s as great as a good song or a fun dance. Here’s
a refresher on what is and is not peacissimo:

Having a theme enables us to give some coherence to camp activities, focus on a few
educational objectives, and come up with ridiculously creative ideas for games. Expect a lot of
music-making and dancing! We’ve got some ideas, and hope you will come with some, too.
Don’t forget:

 Your new, never-seen-before musical instrument! Each delegation should design this
instrument, and the only rules are (1) it must be something new, (2) it must make a lot of
noise, and (3) it should involve as many members of the delegation as possible. Give
your instrument a name, and bring all the parts you need for it to Belgium (if you need
extra parts, you can contact us and we’ll see if we can help). You’re going to need it for
the Gaffophone Orchestra. The what . . . ?! You’ll find out when you arrive in Belgium.

 As much of your music as possible! Okay, so not everyone was thrilled with the music
we chose to represent your countries in precamp 2. You will have no end of opportunities
to share the definitely-much-better music from your country that you bring with you to
the village. We want to hear the music that you like, the music that inspires and moves
you, and we want you to be ready to tell us about it. Post some in advance to our
Facebook group if you can!

 Your normal musical instruments! One delegate plays guitar? One plays penny-
whistle? One plays the zither? All are welcome. Please bring them. Please note that it will

Peacissimo! Village 2011 Precamp 3 Page 5

 not be possible for us to provide instruments to delegates (though we should have at
least two guitars on site to lend out . . .)

Cleaning

It is very important to keep the site clean, and we will be the only people responsible for
cleaning it during the village. Each person will be responsible for keeping their own sleeping
area clean, and the kids will be assigned to groups that will clean common areas. For the kids,
this part of the village educational content: everyone has to share responsibilities and duties that
make community life possible.

Chores can be quick and enjoyable if adults and JCs:

 set a good example

 make sure that the children know exactly what is expected from them
 establish a routine
 assign every child an equal part of the tasks
 do a quick but efficient job
 offer genuine praise for a job well-done
 approach chores with a cooperative attitude

Please make sure all the kids understand that they will be expected to participate in cleaning!

In accordance with Belgian laws, we can be inspected for health and safety regulations, and we
want to make sure our camp is run in the best possible way.

Emergency contact

Each day in the evening (other than the excursion days and the family weekends), a laptop with
internet access will be made available for the leaders and JCs to get in contact with parents and
give news about the children.

We remind you again of the fact that the telephone won't be accessible to the
children; it should be used only for emergencies (this is the rule in all CISV Villages).
In a crisis, people from outside will be able to reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
via the emergency phone: +32 498 56 10 12.

Forms. Forms. Forms.

Precamp 2 listed all the forms we need from you. Here they are again, just to be safe:

Parents Leaders JCs Int. staff

ALIF 2000 X X
HF 2000 X X X X

Peacissimo! Village 2011 Precamp 3 Page 6

 TIF X X X
VDIF X X
JC Information Form X
TWAL 2000 X
YLIF 2000 X
Swimming waiver X X
(provided by staff)

All forms can be found at http://resources.cisv.org, except the swimming waiver, which is
attached to this precamp.

Forms can be sent by email to peacissimo@gmail.com.

Please note that the deadline for submission of your forms
is FRIDAY JUNE 3rd. If there is some reason you cannot
submit your forms before that date, please contact us
immediately.

Leaders, please have one copy of the health and legal

forms for each of your kids in your hand luggage, to be
given to the host family on arrival. The rest should be
fine in your stowed luggage. You should also leave
copies of the forms with your parents and a chapter
contact person including photocopies of your tickets
and passports, just in case.

Please bring copies of all of your forms, as well as originals!

We are also keen to hear about any food or dietary issues, or particular equipment and supply
needs, as early as we can.

What to bring (and what not to bring)

A packing list is attached to precamp 2; please print it out and give it to

all the members of your delegation. We cannot forecast the weather for
July. It may be warm (20C), very warm (25C to 30C) or it may be rainy
and cold (5C to 15C) for a couple of days. Such is Belgium! So it's a good
idea to dress light, but with at least one jumper / hoodie, a raincoat, and
waterproof shoes. Original prescriptions for drugs (in English, French or
Dutch) should be brought along in case someone needs a refill—it can
be very difficult to get a prescription filled in Belgium without the
doctor’s original!

Make sure not to forget your national costume, and a national flag for your delegation

Peacissimo! Village 2011 Precamp 3 Page 7

Please do not bring mobile phones (except for adults) jewellery and valuables, bad tempers, etc.
Personal electronic devices like laptops, camcorders, iPods or MP3 players, and PSPs or GameBoys
are lifesavers on the plane, but we will ask everyone to hand theirs in as they arrive at camp; iPods
and MP3 players can be made available if needed for village activities

You do not need to bring any sleeping equipment like sleeping bags and sheets. We will have
everything.

Remember: lots of trading happens between kids at a CISV Village, and delegates should leave
behind anything that their parents would be upset about them trading away.

Placements are a CISV tradition! Please bring an A4 sheet of paper which is a collage about you and
your delegation, laminated if possible. Make it a big mixture of pictures and photos and photos of
your family, friends and things that you do. Be colourful and creative! Booklets are also a possibility
and give you more space for priority. JCs: Please remember to come with your placemats or
booklets already finished!

Don’t forget about the National Nights!

At every village, each delegation presents its country during an evening / day. National nights
usually involve traditional or popular costumes, dances, songs, games, and slides or other images
showing what your country looks like, the kids and their families, their pets and friends, their
homes, their schools. A national night presentation usually lasts about 1½ hours. We want to know
more about where you come from, and we want it to be as fun as possible. Since the theme of the
village is music and dance, the more music and dancing the better!

Each delegation should bring a small, typical light meal from home, such as sweets, sandwiches, or
anything that is easy to prepare and can be handed out at the end of the evening or at any other
moment. If you want to prepare something special, let us know in advance so we can try to arrange
it in the kitchen. Beware that we might not be able to find the kind of food you ask for, so it might
be better to bring it with you.

Registering with CISV Friends

Don’t forget to register! http://friends.cisv.org/

And a note for JCs . . .

You’ve been asked to come two days early so that we can give you some time to get to know each
other, share your expectations about the village, and help us out with preparations. This is standard
across most CISV villages. When you arrive on June 30th, you will be met at the airport or train
station and be accommodated with a host family (all together) before heading out to the village
site the next day. If you have any questions about this, contact us at peacissimo@gmail.com.

Peacissimo! Village 2011 Precamp 3 Page 8

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT . . .

IT’S A CROSSWORD PUZZLE!

Peacissimo! Village 2011 Precamp 3 Page 9

 SWIMMING WAIVER
There is a swimming pool at the village site! And it is awesome. It important to note that
all children and youth at the village (everyone under the age of 18) must be in
possession of this Swimming Waiver, signed by their parent or guardian. Please enter
the necessary data, print it out, have it signed and bring it with you.

I, the undersigned .............................................................................................................................

( parent / guardian )

Of ..............................................................................................................................................................
( name and country )

Declare hereby that my son or daughter has my authorization to take part in

swimming activities during their stay at the Peacissimo! Village in Brussels 2011
(V-2011-004), from 2 to 29 July 2011, and give formal permission to the camp
director, a staff member, or the delegation leader to accompany my child for these
swimming activities.

Signed in ...................................................... ( country ), on ............................................ ( date )

Signature :

Peacissimo! Village 2011 Precamp 3 Page 10