ORONO – The Maine Chapter of Children’s International Summer Villages is now accepting applications for delegates in multinational camps and exchange programs next summer. Applications are open to 11- to 18-year-olds.

CISV offers international and local programs that foster global friendships and cross-cultural understanding. CISV is an independent, nonprofit, nonpolitical worldwide volunteer organization that promotes peaceful solutions to global problems. It is dedicated to making a world of difference and committed to the personal safety and welfare of all participants in the program.

The year 2001 is the 50th anniversary of CISV and the 100th birthday of its founder, Doris Twitchell Allen, originally of Old Town, who convened the first CISV in Cincinnati in 1951.

To be eligible for CISV programs, delegates must be the required age for at least one day June 1 to Aug. 31 for summer programs, or Nov. 1 to Jan. 31 for winter villages. Applicants are required to attend a local “selection overnight” Jan. 13-14, to meet with selection committee officials and other CISV participants. Applications also are being accepted for adult leaders, 21 years and older, to accompany the Maine youth delegations representing the United States.

Villages are four-week programs for 11-year-olds in delegations of two boys, two girls and an adult leader from 12 nations.

CISV-Maine seeks delegates and leaders for the following programs in 2001: in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 6 to Aug. 2, 2001, delegates born June 2, 1989 to Aug. 31, 1990; Taento, Italy, July 4 to July 31, 2001, delegates born June 2, 1989 to Aug. 31, 1990; Salvador, Brazil, Dec. 28, 2001 to Jan 24, 2002, delegates born Nov. 2, 1989-Jan. 31, 1991.

Summer camp is a three-week, multinational camp for delegations of four 15-year-olds and an adult leader from up to nine countries to be held in Haifa, Israel, July 6 to 28, 2001.

Junior counselors, ages 16-17, are needed to assist staff and leaders at CISV this year in Miami County, Ohio, June 29 to July 26 (female delegate) and in Jakarta, Indonesia, June 27 to July 24, 2001 (male delegate).

Interchange, a cultural exchange in July for five boys and five girls, ages 13-14, involves spending two weeks with CISV peers and their families in Kiel, Germany. The German CISV interchange delegates spend two weeks in Maine with their CISV-Maine counterparts.

Seminar camp, a three-week camp with individual delegates ages 17-18 from up to 20 nations, will be held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, July 26 to Aug. 15, 2001, and seeks a female delegate. Interested male students are encouraged to apply in the event that CISV-Maine is offered positions in other seminar camps.

In the Old Town area, CISV-Maine will sponsor its 6th Kaleidoscope Village, a multicultural day camp at Leonard’s Mills in Bradley for 30 youths ages 10 to 12 from the Greater Bangor Area, July 23 to 28, 2001. Registration forms will be mailed to interested families in the spring. Call Betsy Rose at 866-3307 for information.

Contact Judy Noonan at 827-2708 for applications for all CISV-Maine international programs. Call Alec Horth at 469-2062 or Marian Aube, at 945-3334, for more information. Completed applications are due by Friday, Dec. 15. To learn more about CISV, visit CISV-USA on the Web at www.cisvusa.org.