CISV Reunion 1991-2022
November 23, 2022
CISV International and Climate Fresk Collaboration: Empowering Climate Education in CISV France!
August 30, 2023
Happy 60th to CISV Italy!
60 years of Peace Education 1963-2023.
Earlier this year CISV Italy celebrated their 60th anniversary at the 2023 National Spring Meeting in Lignano Sabbiadoro. Over 1,000 CISV Italy members came together to commemorate this important milestone! The lovely CISVers at CISV Italy were kind enough to pass along some fantastic photos and details from their big 60th birthday bash so we could all celebrate with them!
History
CISV Italy has been part of the CISV family since its founding in Bologna in 1963 by Professor Maria Mattarelli. The first Italian delegation participated in a Village held in Søgne, Norway. Since then, CISV Italy has helped thousands of Italian children and families to participate in cross-cultural education programs promoting inclusion, diversity and peace.
The 60th Birthday Party!
Several decades after that first International Children’s Village, over 1,000 CISV Italy members gathered in Lignano Sabbiadoro for the 2023 National Meeting to celebrate CISV Italy’s 60th anniversary. CISV Italy members of all ages came from across Italy to mark this momentous milestone together. The reunion was magical – old friends hugged, shared memories, and reconnected. It was also a chance to remind everyone of their commitment to CISV’s core values of cross-cultural friendship and peace education – which feel just as important today as they did 60 years ago!
The National Meeting opened with an emotional welcome speech from outgoing CISV Italy President Elisa Briga. There was also a photographic exhibition of black-and-white images from the first Italian CISV camps and Villages. Among the nostalgic photos were those from the inaugural 1967 Italian Village held in Trento. There was also an original 1952 dedication from CISV founder Doris Allen.
CISV Italy members were deeply moved to be celebrating six decades of camp friendships and peace education. The National Meeting represented generations coming together to reflect on CISV’s past and future. The 60th-anniversary celebrations included activities for participants, the appointment of Junior Branch members, workshops on the future of CISV Italy, and a roundtable discussion on volunteering.
The highlight was a party on Saturday evening which brought together adults and Junior Branch members and was accompanied by live music. A highly anticipated moment was the arrival of the ceremonial 60th-anniversary cake for CISV Italy. The cake was welcomed into the hall by current CISV Italy President Elisa Briga along with former presidents Jacopo Piccioli, Annamaria Pasquariello, and Luciana Roberti. Seeing the cake commemorating six decades of CISV Italy was a poignant representation of how far the organization had come.
Here at CISV International, we were delighted to see how CISV Italy celebrated their 60th Birthday, with multiple generations of CISV Italy members coming together to renew their commitment to CISV values and friendships. We are inspired by CISV Italy’s longevity and passion. Here’s to many more years of educating generations for peace through building intercultural friendships and understanding.
If your NA is celebrating a special anniversary, please let us know so we can celebrate with you! Email CISV International Communications.
