A Message from Katie Bigelow, our JB advisor:
I hope that everyone is doing well and that summer is off to a great start for all of you! This summer is definitely different for me as I am used to preparing for a summer program at this time. I was so sad when it was announced that all summer programs would not be happening this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A summer without CISV?! What will I do?!
Luckily, our incredible Junior Branch USA has come to the rescue! CISV USA’s National Junior Representatives (NJRs), Nikita and Ben, have developed a wonderful new initiative to help keep CISVers engaged during this unprecedented time. They have developed the Passion Projects. What are the Passion Projects? Here is an excerpt from “A JBers Guide to the Passion Projects”:
“CISV USA’s NJRs, Nikita Raheja and Benjamin Allan-Rahill, and the national committees have brainstormed a framework that incorporates CISV’s education and leadership mission. We believe that the three core pillars of JB are: leadership, education, and action. Given the current pandemic, we want to present this framework as a means to continue achieving these goals.
We are calling the framework the “Passion Projects.” The central idea is that JBers of any age would be able to combine their interests within CISV and their passions outside of CISV. We believe that COVID-19 warrants a pivot in JB USA and we believe that completion of these individual Passion Projects can continue to push CISV forward.
Each JBer will pick a topic that they are passionate about and create a project. Topics might come from organizations they’ve worked with in the past, ideas that they’re interested in learning more about, service ideas, etc. Each project would result in any type of: Publication, Performance, Presentation, Professional Application, or Production. Projects will be guided and evaluated by adult mentors.”
I personally love the idea of the Passion Projects for several reasons. First, it allows EVERY JBer a chance to participate in CISV this summer. Second, there’s NO COST involved. Third, it allows adults that have maybe wanted to get more involved with our JBers a chance without having to take time off from work and use vacation days. And those are just a few of the reasons why I believe in the Passion Projects.
I am including links to several documents that Nikita and Ben have created that explain more about the Passion Projects. Also, there is a webinar happening tomorrow night at 8pm where they will be sharing more information and answering questions. To sign up for the webinar, please follow this link: https://zmurl.com/viqh5kr
Passion Projects helpful documents:
A JBer’s Guide to the Passion Projects
An Adult’s Guide to the Passion Projects
Passion Project Slideshow (A quick overview of the Passion Projects)
Once you have a group, or if you would like to join a group, please visit the Passion Projects page. If you would like to be a mentor to a group or individual, please also visit this website to sign up. The Passion Projects are coordinated at the national level. https://juniorbranch.cisvusa.org/passion-projects/.
I would love to see as many of our JBers participate as possible!!! Please reach out to me with any questions! You can reach me via email (bigelow.miss@gmail.com) or by phone (937-216-8045).
Take care,
Katie Bigelow
Junior Branch Advisor
