village

training
curriculum
(2013)
village training curriculum framework/

communication,
conflict and
us
culture building community

you with our educational

approach

me roles, responsibilities
foundations and and how best to do
self awareness your job

do
fly!
reflection
and action

The Village Training Curriculum contains five sections that you

can use interchangeably, depending on what particular material
you plan to cover in your Village training. Each of the sections has
a theme, elements, related training goals, description of the
contents of the elements as well as applicable resources.
village training curriculum framework and elements/

Introductions/Group Building
Foundations and Roles in a Village
Training Goals and Indicators
Leadership Styles
me
Active Listening and Giving Feedback
Pre/Conflict Transformation

you
Culture, Values and Interactions (including the R-07)

Goals and Indicators of the Village Programme

Developing as a Community
Preparing and Doing Meaningful Activities

us
Basic Training Skills
Roles and Responsibilities for Before, During and After the Programme
Risk Management
Ongoing Evaluation
do
Reflect on Training and Performance
What’s Next?

fly!

Within each section, there are a few training elements that help
us explore the particular area. A particular training session or
activity may cover one element, or various elements.
CISV International has written a basic training curriculum,
available on resources.cisv.org, which provides background for all
CISV training. The Village training curriculum builds upon the
elements in the basic training curriculum. Here is how they CISV basic training
connect! curriculum

Element 1:
Introducing CISV
village training
curriculum

Introductions/Group Building
Element 2:
Foundations and Roles in a Village
CISV as an
Training Goals and Indicators
Organization
Leadership Styles

me
Element 3:
Active Listening and Giving Effective
Feedback Leadership and
Pre/Conflict Transformation Communication
Culture, Values and Interactions
(including the R-07)
you Element 4:
CISV’s Educational
Goals and Indicators of the Village Approach
Programme
Developing as a Community
Preparing and Doing Meaningful
Activities

us Element 5:
Evaluation

Basic Training Skills

Roles and Responsibilities for
Before, During and After the
Programme
Element 6:

do
Risk Management
Ongoing Evaluation Risk Management

Reflect on Training and

Performance
What’s Next?
Element 7:
Communicating

fly! CISV
reaching our training goals/

Each of the training elements are connected to our Village training

goals and indicators - which we use for evaluation of our training
programmes.
reaching our training goals/

Here you’ll find how our curriculum framework and

elements connect to our training indicators. By covering
a particular element, you will reach specified training goals!

Curriculum Elements Goals and Indicators

Framework
me Introductions/ Develop an understanding of strengths and skills in self and others, while
Group Building cultivating an awareness of cultural and personal differences among individuals.
(K)
Be able to make contributions to building an inclusive community. (S)
Foundations and Understand how Peace Education is relevant to Active Global Citizenship. (K)
Roles in a Village
Understand how your individual responsibilities are important in a wider context.
(K)
Understand the importance and significance of the Village programme within
CISV as an organisation. (K)
Training Goals Overview of all training goals and indicators.
and Indicators
Leadership Styles Be able to respond appropriately to change and conflict. (S)

you Active Listening Be able to respond appropriately to change and conflict. (S)
and Giving
Be willing to openly and respectfully communicate with others. (A)
Feedback
Pre/Conflict Develop an understanding of strengths and skills in self and others, while
Transformation cultivating an awareness of cultural and personal differences among individuals.
(K)
Be able to respond appropriately to change and conflict. (S)
Be willing to openly and respectfully communicate with others. (A)
Culture, Values Develop an understanding of strengths and skills in self and others, while
and Interactions cultivating an awareness of cultural and personal differences among individuals.
(including the (K)
R-07)

us Goals and Understand CISV's educational principles and methods in relation to the Village
Indicators of the programme. (K)
Programme
Developing as a Understand CISV's educational principles and methods in relation to the Village
Community programme. (K)
Be able to make contributions to building an inclusive community. (S)
Preparing and Understand how Peace Education is relevant to Active Global Citizenship. (K)
Doing Meaningful
Understand CISV's educational principles and methods in relation to the village
Activities
programme. (K)
Be able to plan, deliver and evaluate educational activities and experiences, as well
as teach and facilitate the above process if relevant to your role. (S)
do Basic Training Be able to plan, deliver and evaluate educational activities and experiences, as well
Skills as teach and facilitate the above process if relevant to your role. (S)
Roles and Be willing to actively support and promote CISV's educational principles (“walk the
Responsibilities talk”). (A)
for Before,
Understand the specific responsibilities and resources required to fulfill your role.
During and After
(K)
the Programme
Be able to apply knowledge and resources to fulfill your role. (S)
Be willing to adopt a proactive and responsible attitude. (A)
Risk Be able to apply best practices and lessons learned from previous Villages (in your
Management Chapter/NA). (S)
Be willing to adopt a proactive and responsible attitude. (A)
Be able to apply knowledge and resources to fulfill your role. (S)
Ongoing Be able to apply best practices and lessons learned from previous Villages (in your
Evaluation Chapter/NA). (S)

fly! Reflect on Be able to apply best practices and lessons learned from previous Villages (in your
Training and Chapter/NA). (S)
Performance
What’s Next? Be willing to actively contribute to continuous improvement of future Villages.
 curriculum
framework,
elements and
training content
section 1/ foundations and self awareness

In this section, trainees will:

Develop an understanding of strengths and skills in self and others, while cultivating an awareness
of cultural and personal differences among individuals. (K)

Be able to make contributions to building an inclusive community. (S)

Understand how Peace Education is relevant to Active Global Citizenship. (K)

Understand how their individual responsibilities are important in a wider context. (K)

Understand the importance and significance of the Village programme within CISV as an
organisation. (K)

Be able to respond appropriately to change and conflict. (S)

Section 1 introduces trainees to the Village programme, to training, to themselves as

CISVers and to each other. It exposes participants to the foundations of CISV, the history
of the village programme and to peace education. It begins to cultivate the individual
strengths that each participant brings to the Village programme and to their work in CISV as
whole.

Section 1 consists of:

Element 1: Introductions/Group Building

Element 2: Foundations and Roles in a Village
Element 3: Training Goals and Indicators
Element 4: Leadership Styles

me
 section 1/ foundations and self awareness

Element 1: Introductions/ Group Building

The purpose of this element is to introduce participants to the training and to have them
begin to get to know each other. It is important that all training participants begin to develop as a
group, as they will be working and learning together during their training. They will also be each
other’s best resources once they begin each of their programmes, so it is important to begin
building connections right away amongst training participants and trainers.

Element 2: Foundations and Roles in a Village

The purpose of this element is to introduce participants to CISV as an organization as
well as to the Village programme itself. Here, it is important to discuss the organization’s history
and foundations in peace education, and emphasize that Villages are usually participants’
introduction to the organization and to peace education. The Village is CISV’s flagship and
longest running programme, and has some of the strongest educational and research-supported
foundations. Participants should also be introduced to the different roles within the Village, and
how these roles work together to build a strong programme.

Element 3: Training Goals and Indicators

Trainees will be introduced to the Village training goals and indicators at the beginning
of their training. These will form the basis of their training evaluation, as well as lay out the
learning that they will do over the course of the training.

Element 4: Leadership Styles

The purpose of this element is to recognize that each participant brings something unique
to the Village programme, as well to explore the group’s individual leadership styles. How do
these leadership styles play out in group situations? What does it mean to be an effective leader
in the context of a Village? How are differences in leadership valuable within the Village?

resources/

CISV Statement of Educational Purpose

CISV Passport
CISV Big Education
CISV Website: Organizational and Programme History
Just Saying: A Guide to Communicating CISV
Village Programme Guide
Village Training Goals and Indicators
section 2/ communication, conflict and culture

In this section, trainees will:

Be able to respond appropriately to change and conflict (S)

Be willing to openly and respectfully communicate with others (A)

Develop an understanding of strengths and skills in self and others, while cultivating an awareness
of cultural and personal differences among individuals. (K)

Section 2 focuses on interpersonal relationships in the Village setting and what

challenges can be faced on a day to day basis due to culture, communication and conflict.
Trainees will discuss strategies around effective communication with others in the leader’s
group. Trainees will also explore the opportunities that engaging in conflict management
and resolution provides (transformation), as well as brainstorm around preventing
unnecessary conflict. Trainees will also discuss culture and how it presents both challenges
and rewards in our personal relationships, and cover CISV’s R-07: Behaviour and Cultural
Sensitivity document.

Section 2 consists of:

Element 5: Active Listening and Giving Feedback

Element 6: Pre/Conflict Transformation
Element 7: Culture, Values and Interactions

you
 section 2/ communication, conflict and culture

Element 5: Active Listening and Giving Feedback

The purpose of this element is to allow participants to understand and practice active
listening skills as strategies for giving and receiving productive feedback. Active listening and
feedback are the foundations of good communication, and in conflict situations need to be
honed and practiced.

Element 6: Pre/Conflict Transformation

We believe that conflict provides opportunity for change and growth. This element covers
all aspects of conflict management, resolution and transformation, including how to properly
prepare for conflicts as well as diffuse, eliminate and prevent conflicts that are not productive.
Productive conflict, however, is necessary in developing strong interpersonal and inter-group
relationships in the Village.

Element 7: Culture, Values and Interactions

Culture and values can be at the root of some conflicts in the Village setting - both
among adults as well as participants. Recognizing cultural and value-based diversity is one of
the most important aspects of the Village programme - both to understand conflicts as well as
to celebrate and learn about our differences. CISV’s R-07 Document (Behaviour and Cultural
Sensitivity) is an essential component of this element.

resources/

Info File R-07 - Behaviour and Cultural Sensitivity

Village Programme Guide
section 3/ building community with our educational approach

In this section, trainees will:

Understand CISV's educational principles and methods in relation to the Village

programme. (K)

Be able to make contributions to building an inclusive community. (S)

Understand how Peace Education is relevant to Active Global Citizenship. (K)

Be able to plan, deliver and evaluate educational activities and experiences, as well as teach and
facilitate the above process if relevant to their role. (S)

Section 3 is about the goals of the Village programme, CISV activities and how both
help us to build community in a Village. Trainees will learn about CISV’s educational
methodology, how to build and deliver effective educational activities and resources/
strategies with which to do so. Trainees will also learn about the group development model,
which plays an integral role in both leader’s group development as well as Village-wide
group development - and how this tool can help us determine what kinds of educational
activities to do.

Section 3 consists of:

Element 8: Goals and Indicators of the Village programme

Element 9: Developing as a Community
Element 10: Preparing and Doing Meaningful Activities

us
section 3/ building community with our educational approach

Element 8: Goals and Indicators of the Village programme

The purpose of this element is to familiarize training participants with the goals and
indicators of the Village programme. These goals and indicators provide the base for Village
education, planning and evaluation. The Village goals should permeate all activities within the
Village as well as be the focus of our educational training. This element will allow trainees to
become familiar with the content of the goals and indicators of the programme as well as how to
use them.

Element 9: Developing as a Community

Along with the Village programme goals, the Village also uses the group development
model to monitor and work towards a positive ‘group feeling’, group maturation and growth. The
five steps of group development can be monitored on a Village calendar, can be used as the
framework for Village goals and activity planning, and should be used as a group evaluation tool
to assess how the group is growing, changing and reaching its potential.

Element 10: Preparing and Doing Meaningful Activities

Activities are the every day currency of the Village programme - they help us to build
community, to reach our goals, to diffuse and transform conflicts, and to have fun getting to
know each other and celebrate our differences. It is important that educational activities are
planned and facilitated with purpose and meaning beyond just ‘doing an activity’ - they must be
connected to educational goals and indicators or for group development as a whole. This
element will advise trainees on how to plan and facilitate meaningful activities for both the
leader’s group (training activities) as well as the whole Village.

resources/

CISV Passport
CISV Big Education Guide
Village Programme Guide
Village Programme Goals and Indicators
Group Development Model
Village Programme PDPEF
Village Activity Template
section 4/ roles, responsibilities and how best to do your job

In this section, trainees will:

Be able to plan, deliver and evaluate educational activities and experiences, as well as teach and
facilitate the above process if relevant to their role. (S)

Be willing to actively support and promote CISV's educational principles (“walk the talk”). (A)

Understand the specific responsibilities and resources required to fulfill their role. (K)

Be able to apply knowledge and resources to fulfill their role. (S)

Be willing to adopt a proactive and responsible attitude. (A)

Be able to apply best practices and lessons learned from previous Villages (in their
Chapter/NA). (S)

Section 4 allows trainees to practice the key attitudes, skills and knowledge that will
be essential to their day-to-day activities in preparation for, during, and after the Village.
During the first weekend of the Village, staff are responsible for ‘training’ their leader’s
group, and in this module basic training skills and strategies will be discussed and practiced.
Specific roles and responsibilities for each leadership role in the Village are covered, and
managing risk is included as an important aspect of day-to-day Village life. Finally, ongoing
evaluation practices are essential to be able to continuously assess and improve the Village.

Section 4 consists of:

Element 11: Basic Training Skills

Element 12: Roles and Responsibilities Before, During and After the Village
Element 13: Risk Management
Element 14: Ongoing Evaluation

do
section 4/ roles, responsibilities and how best to do your job

Element 11: Basic Training Skills

Throughout the Village, but particularly during the first leader’s weekend, Village staff are
expected to act as ‘trainers’ for their leader’s group - to prepare them to work together towards
meeting the goals of the programme. It is important that staff groups have the time to think
through and develop some training activities for their leader’s group in order to set the Village
up for success. In this element, training skills, strategies and practice will be covered particularly
in reference to the leader’s preparation weekend and the role the staff plays in facilitating it.

Element 12: Roles and Responsibilities Before, During and After the Village
This element will allow trainers and trainees to cover all their practical concerns and
requirements in order to prepare for the Village, for during the Village as well as after the Village
is over. These particular responsibilities are very role specific and should be discussed in role-
specific groups (example: leader’s group, staff group, director’s group). The Village guide is an
essential resource for this element, although local concerns and requirements may add to the
practical responsibilities listed in the guide.

Element 13: Risk Management

All CISV programmes and experiences will contain elements of risk, Villages included.
There are ways, however, of assessing and minimizing risk during a Village - and it is important
that leaders and staff are well versed in risk management. It is important to be aware of
potential risk and know how to act responsibly if a crisis occurs. This element will prepare
trainees to recognize and minimize elements of risk. Trainees will learn about CISV’s
priorities, processes for documenting incidents, and ways to respond to crises.

Element 14: Ongoing Evaluation

During the Village, it is important that leaders and staff be prepared to perform ongoing
evaluations, in terms of the educational goals of the programme (using the PDPEF and activity
monitoring), Village-particular evaluations (such as planning, logistics) with the leader’s group,
as well as getting feedback from the participants on different activities during the programme.
Training in this element will introduce trainees to various evaluation tools and methods that
can be used during the programme to monitor and work towards its success.

resources/

CISV Big Education Guide

Village Programme Guide
Village Programme Goals and Indicators
Village Programme PDPEF
Info File No.1: CISV’s approach to Risk Management
Info File No.6: Essential Risk Management in CISV
section 5/ reflection and action

In this section, trainees will:

Be able to apply best practices and lessons learned from previous Villages (in their
Chapter/NA). (S)

Be willing to actively contribute to continuous improvement of future Villages. (A)

Section 5 allows trainees to reflect on their training and how it contributes to their
own development in their roles as well as to their particular Village. Trainees will be asked
to assess the Village training goals and indicators and reflect on their learning. They will also
be given time to create an action plan for their particular role - what are the steps they want
to take this week, this month, and up until their Village? What ways do they want to
contribute to the Village programme as a whole, or to their Chapter or NA?

Section 5 consists of:

Element 15: Reflect on Training and Performance

Element 16: What’s Next?

fly!
section 5/ reflection and action

Element 15: Reflect on Training and Performance

The purpose of this element is to allow trainees to look back on their training, and to
evaluate their own achievements and learning using the Village training goals and indicators.
This will help trainees to determine what additional training or learning might still benefit them,
and to see how far they have come!

Element 16: What’s Next?

This element will allow trainees to come up with personal and group action plans, to
structure their work and responsibilities up until the Village. This element allows trainees to
think ahead and figure out how to apply their training in the immediate future, in preparation for
their programme participation.

resources/

Village Training Goals and Indicators

Village Programme Guide