THE Children's International Summer Villages (CISV) celebrated its 50th anniversary last week. It is a non-religious, non-political, non-profit organization that aims to promote peace by bringing together children from around the world for three or four week temporary villages.

The first CISV village took place in the North American town of Cincinnati, Ohio in 1951. Since then 62 countries have become involved and over 150,000 delegates have participated in more than 4,000 international events.

Doris Allen founded the organization in 1951 and is celebrating her 100th birthday this year as well as CISV's golden anniversary. The idea for the villages stemmed from her reaction to Professor Meiklejohn's thoughts on world peace after the Second World War. He suggested that the battle for peaceful world organization would be won or lost in the sphere of adult learning. Allen, a psychologist, strongly disagreed and stated that instead, "we must start with the children." Her vision was to give children the opportunity to meet their peers from other countries and to form intercultural relationships. She was convinced that lasting peace is possible in the world if individuals and groups can learn to live together as friends.

From 1954 until 1992, despite the Cold War, CISV maintained a non-political exchange relationship with Pioneer youth organizations in communist countries. This mutual co-operation was one of the longest continuing East-West exchange programs of its kind. Many former Pioneer movements in Eastern Europe transformed into new organizations and have maintained strong links with CISV. Bulgaria became officially involved with CISV in 1990. During communism there were youth exchanges through CISV but these happened rarely and the current Bulgarian branch has no connections with the old Pioneer movement.

Velina Nacheva is the National Secretary of Bulgaria's CISV branch. She selects children, prepares them for trips and also runs leadership training. Thirty Bulgarian children were sent to six European villages this year.

Each village receives 12 delegations of four children and one adult from 12 different countries. Through informal activity sessions they learn how to be tolerant of other religions and races. By living with children from around the world they realize that people are the same whatever their background.

Children have to pay a participation fee as well as their transport costs and pocket money. This can be quite expensive and means that in some countries the program is only available to those from relatively wealthy backgrounds.

The participation fee does not usually cover the cost of villages and organizers have to rely on additional sponsorship.

CISV in Bulgaria have never hosted a village as they have not been able to raise enough money from sponsors. They would also need to find 24 host families for visiting children. Sponsorship for villages is not always in the form of cash - food, accommodation and art materials are sometimes offered by donors. In the U.S. last year a businessman paid for the children to have a day out in an amusement park.

Last month, Nacheva took four Bulgarian children to a CISV village in Finland. "They were really surprised that Finnish families go naked together in saunas whereas you have to wear a swim suit here," she said. The Bulgarians made shopska salad and surprised other children by putting ketchup on their pasta. "The children notice all these little differences, it's very interesting for them," said Nacheva.

Kids are often completely changed after the villages. "Their parents can't recognize them," said Nacheva. "When there was an earthquake in India kids here were worried about the Indian children they knew. They take much more interest in world news and get interested in learning languages when they return."

In July, Radostina Pavlova took a Bulgarian delegation of children to a village in Holland. It was her first village and she was not prepared for some of the activities. Children are encouraged to sing songs during the day and lullabies before they sleep. "At first the children and I found this strange," said Pavlova. "But we grew to love it - each day we learnt new songs."

The village language is English which can be difficult for children. In Holland they shared rooms with three other children of different nationalities and had to find ways to communicate. Their leaders were also on hand to translate. "One of my kids hardly spoke a word of English, and he became best friends with an Italian boy. They seemed to understand each other even though they communicated in their own languages," said Pavlova.

Daily activities often focus on communication or simulate situations for participants to experience. A popular CISV activity is Peace-War-Peace. Groups of children create their idea of peace in different areas before destroying the work of another group. They then return to their area and find that their own creations have been destroyed. Children discuss their reactions in feedback sessions with leaders.

Pavlova had been warned that the last night of the village would be a `crying night' as children are sad to leave their friends. "I couldn't believe my kids would cry because they didn't seem so emotional," she said. "But I was wrong - even the tough boys were crying."

She hopes to do it again but finds it difficult to get so much time off work. One thing she learnt from the camp was that she doesn't want to have children of her own for a long time. "If I do it will be a girl and only one," she said.

Bulgaria will celebrate CISV's golden anniversary in September with a national mini camp in Bankya. Participants will discuss Doris Allen and dedicate a lullaby to the organization which will be recorded and sent to her.