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WHAT
IS ISSE?
The International School-to-School Experience (ISSE) is a unique international
program for elementary schools that provides for the exchange of thoughts
and ideas through face-to-face contact with children from other countries
around the world. It is non-profit, non-political, and non-religious in
nature. The program gives all elementary school children the opportunity
to experience and understand other cultures on a first-hand basis. It
is an innovative approach for elementary schools that realize the importance
of international experience in modern elementary education.
WHY
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS?
The ten, eleven or twelve year old is mature enough to benefit from international
experience, yet young enough to be relatively free from prejudice. The
full power of the young “ambassador” should not be under-estimated.
Children of this age are not trying to “find themselves”. They
know who they are and can be good representatives of their country. These
children are young enough to need adults but old enough to build their
own relationships. There is no generation gap as children of this age
are friendly with both children and adults.
HOW ISSE WORKS?
Children of all backgrounds participate in the ISSE program. A partnership
between an elementary school in one country is formed with an elementary
school in another country. A small team of eleven or twelve year old children
and an adult from another country visits a school for approximately a
month. Each child lives with a family with a child of similar age and
goes to school with their host.
The accompanying adult is also hosted by another family.. At a mutually
agreeable time the school sends a similar team to the school from which
the visitors came, to live under the same arrangements. The visiting delegation
share their culture with each grade level.
SELECTION
The selection of children should be based upon factors other than ability
to pay travel expenses, such as:
-- Interest in learning about new cultures and becoming friends with children
of other cultures
-- Willingness to communicate their experiences with their school when
they return
-- Sufficient independence and emotional maturity
-- Minimum age of ten at departure time is expected
EXPENSES
All living expenses of the visiting children and adult are paid by their
host families. Travel expenses of the visitors are paid, when possible,
by their school, community, and/or their local ISSE organization. Parents
of the visiting children provide passports, clothing, and spending money.
ISSE is both an enriching and attainable opportunity.
WORLD WIDE INVOLVEMENT OF ISSE
The roots of the ISSE program extended back to 1951 when Dr. Doris T.
Allen founded the Children’s International Summer Villages (CISV).
ISSE, an extension and companion organization of CISV, has grown since
1971 to include a large number of participating countries which currently
include: Australia, Costa Rica, India, Mexico,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Japan, U.S.A., Malaysia, Peru
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