Official Peace Train Europe Project Guide

Connecting. Involving. Empowering.
Project Guide
2018
Peace Train Europe
Facebook: Peace Train Europe
Email: peacetraineu@gmail.com

Peace Train Europe Project Guide 2018
Content
Introduction _______________________________________________________________ 1
Local Associations _________________________________________________________ 4
Participants _______________________________________________________________ 8
Facilitators ______________________________________________________________ 11
On Risk Management ______________________________________________________ 13
Educational Approach ______________________________________________________ 14
Deadline Summary ________________________________________________________ 16
The Organizing Team ______________________________________________________ 17

Page 01
Introduction
…connecting…
…involving…
…empowering…
Introduction
What is Peace Train Europe
Peace Train Europe is an independent initiative that aims to connect, involve and empower
young Europeans, their families and their communities.
It is a project wherein a group of young Europeans and their facilitators would travel through
and experience 5-6 different Local Associations through a learning by doing approach and
doing hands-on local assignments.
The Peace Train Europe is not affiliated with CISV International directly but it involves
various activities done by CISVers.
CISV International is a global organization dedicated to educating and inspiring for peace
through building inter-cultural friendship, cooperation and understanding.
A short history
Peace Train Europe was inspired by CISV Canada’s Peace Bus. In 2015, during the CISV
Global Conference held in Norway, a group of pioneers came up with an idea. What if we
were to find a way to foster a better relationship between Local Associations while utilizing
the inspiration that we received through the Peace Bus?
In 2016, the First Peace Train Europe was launched. It was, albeit many difficulties, a
success. It proved that the Project was not only doable but it did have a potential to become
more than what was thought of.
Mission, Vision
The Mission
The Peace Train Europe’s motto is Connecting, Involving. Empowering. We seek to connect
young Europeans to learn about their neighbors, to involve them in exploring different
communities and to empower them to take the initiative and act.
The Vision
To break away the mask of the stranger, building a borderless community of people that
comprehend that doing is an important step to change the world.

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Introduction
Glossary
Peace Train Europe (PTE) – the independent initiative and quality-based approach for the
project
Peace Train Europe Project (PTE Project) – the entire travel, sightseeing and Project
based educational approach wherein Local Associations and the Participant group takes
part in. It will be created by the Local Associations by proxy of their Local Association Local
Coordinator. It may be one or more per year depending on the number of participating LAs.
Peace Train Europe Organizing Team – the main team responsible for handling issues
with the project and overall coordination for the creation of the year’s Project. They are
responsible for the educational and theoretical goals but not the logistics that will be handled
by the PTE Project Working Group.
Local Association (LA) – the volunteer group, similar to CISV International’s Chapter
system, including its various members that would actively participate in the Peace Train
Europe Project in their various home territories
Local Association Local Coordinator (LC) – the cornerstone of the PTE Project in its
various different phases, the responsible chosen by the LA that would plan the Project
including the travel segments and stays, and responsible for the stay during the execution of
the Project
PTE Project Plan – the plan for the PTE Project decided, organized and approved by the
PTE Project Working Group.
Local Assignment (LoAs) – is a local project involving LA members and the participant
group together with preferably a like-minded organization, in achieving an educational
purpose through a hands-on approach (when possible).
PTE Project Working Group – the group of LCs together with the Organizing Team that
would plan the PTE Project
LA Stay Working Group – should the LC decide to delegate the planning of the stay, it is
the group of LA Members with the LC that should plan it. The main representative that would
answer to the Organizing Team is always the LC.
Participant group – the group of 16 young Europeans between 16-18 years of age and
their 3 Facilitators from the age of 21.
Participant – the young European actively taking part in the Project from start to finish.
There will be 16 available spots of which each participating LA has two.
Facilitator – the official “staff”. They will be chosen independently from the LAs and they will
be focused on the wellbeing of the participants as well as the educational content of the
project. They are fully funded volunteers without financial retribution

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Introduction
LA Stay – the period wherein the participant group will be hosted at a LA
PTE Project Budget – the main financial backbone of the experience. It will be collected
from participant fees to fund the following: the travel between stays, official t-shirts, facilitator
training expenses(which includes the logistics, travel costs of facilitators and trainers, and
expenses for the training itself), insurance(facilitators and Organizing Team), and facilitator
general expenses (not including their own personal expenses) - This may be subject to
changes from year to year
LA Stay Budget – the budget allocated from the LA to pay for hosting and stay expenses:
Site, food and travel within the LA costs. This may be subject to changes from year to year
due to coordination between LAs, travel (due to high density travel and distance) and local
assignments/activities chosen by the LA.
Participant fee – the fee each participant will need to participate
Voluntary Principle
We are a volunteer based initiative. The Organizing Team consists of a group of individual
volunteers that would lend their expertise and support in helping create the year’s project.
They will help to try to reduce the stress of building the project from the base up, but the
project itself will be led and mainly created by the Local Associations themselves.
The Organizing Team will oversee the Project Plan which would include the travel plan,
sightseeing plan, the hands-on local assignments, the various Content-based approaches
and the Educational goals and content. They will also be responsible for the main review
and quality check evaluations.
At the end of the Peace Train Europe Project, they will also help with the overall evaluation
and audit of the project.
After this extensive introduction, we would like to welcome you to this incredible experience.
The Organizing Team
15 October 2018

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Local Associations
Local Associations
The Local Association, as defined in the glossary, are the main pillars of the Project. They
are responsible for the Project itself by providing the most necessary part of the Project: the
stays and the local assignments.
Local Coordinator
LAs are also defined by one figure, their Local Coordinators. Their responsibilities include:
• Communicating with other coordinators to set the travel plans in the planning phase
and communicating during the entire stay
• Communicating the Local Assignment in the planning phase
• Responsible for coordinating the stay in the territory and the travel to and from the
accommodation sites, including the sightseeing
• Responsible for coordinating the planning and execution of the local assignment
• The end of the responsibilities of the Local Coordinator begins with the arrival of the
participants at the next travel destination or at the departure of the participants at the
end.
• The LC may delegate the planning of the LA Stay to other members of the LA.
However, the LC is always the main representative and main contact person for the
Organizing Team. This would be the LA Stay Working Group
Hosting a LA Stay
Hosting a group of people is a very taxing experience for any association, especially when it
comes with little information. Here are some more details
• The Project should be between 21-23 Days preferably between the months of July-
August to take advantage of the Summer Vacations
• There will be various different lengths of Stays depending on the ordinal sequence
and the number of the participating LAs
o The First LA Stay does not require a local assignment since it will be used
mainly for group building and training purposes
o The Third and Last LA Stay requires an extra day necessary for the Midway
and End Evaluations
o The First, Third and Last LA Stays in general require one extra day

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Local Associations
o So, for example:
• 5 Participating LAs:
• First, Third and Last LA Stays – 5 Days
• The Rest LA Stays – 4 Days
• 6 Participating LAs:
• First, Third and Last LA Stays – 4 Full days
• The Rest LA Stays – 3 Days
• Sightseeing is a fundamental part of the experience with a maximum of half a day
allocated for it
• Local Assignments are necessary. They are with its own goal and objectives and
created with a like-minded association in the LA’s territory. We do advise that they
be as hands-on as possible with a good discussion post local assignment on what
can be learned
• A Local Assignment should not be longer than 1 full day long in order to remain in
schedule.
• Food is a necessary topic. Each LA has to take into consideration that the
participant group should be fed according to the Full Pension principle: at least two
full meals or according to the local tradition of the LA. This would mean for example,
a full breakfast, light lunch and heavy dinner or what is typical for the territory where
the LA is situated.
• *Do note: the number of participating LAs will be decided by the Organizing team on
the criteria of distance, LA availability in the time period, and Local assignment
proposal.
Cultural Aspect of a LA Stay
Every LA Stay should showcase the culture of the LA, whether it be with homecooked meals
or stay by the families. This is a very important part of the project. Try to make it as regionallocal
as possible and let the participants see the LA as it is in its natural environment. The
true treasure of a LA are its families and involving them in the planning and execution of the
stay is of upmost importance.
LA Stay Accommodation, LA Stay Budget, PTE Project
Budget
A very important part is the hosting site or any other hosting accommodation. A hosting site
should not be where another program is taking place. Less contact with other participants

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Local Associations
from other programs is ideal, especially when it comes to living space.
They may be hosted in families but do note, the first, third and last LA stays do need to keep
the participants together as one group when possible. Separation by gender is preferred
should the possibility arise.
Do note this very important detail: The Organizing Team and PTE Project Budget will not be
responsible to cover any costs incurred during the LA Stay. The LA Stays should be covered
by the LA Stay Budget, which would include site/accommodation, food and drink, and travel
within the LA (to and from the LA Stay site/accommodation).
The Organizing Team strongly recommends that the LA should partake in local fundraising
in order to ease costs, both for the LA and to ease the Participant Fee. The Organizing
Team will also do Fundraising but a multi-tiered fundraising would have higher chances for
success.
LA Stay Budget minimum recommendation: between 500-1000 Euros (this of course will
depend on food, local transportation and if there will be based on a paid hosting site).
Local Assignment
Local Assignments are the soul of the Peace Train Europe Projects. Local Assignments are
based on the goals and objectives set by UNESCO Peace Education and our main goals.
They are important since they handle the various themes faced by the communities and the
Local Associations and they help the participants understand the complexities of the Europe
they live in.
Each Local Assignment should handle any of the following content principles: human rights,
ecosustainability, diversity, and conflict and resolution. They should be in cooperation with a
like-minded organization active in the Local Association’s territory. The Local Coordinator
should submit a draft proposal to the Organizing Team to determine its appropriateness.
When approved together with the Project Plan, the dates should be set together with the
like-minded organization.
At the end of each Local Assignment, an appropriate discussion about the project must be
done and it must be evaluated.
Participant Slots
Each participating LA will be allocated two slots for participants, one male and one female.
They will have the right to choose the best candidate for the Project as long as the main PTE
criteria are satisfied. Should they not be able to fill these slots, they may give them to

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Local Associations
another LA from their own country, even if the LA is not participating in the Project itself.
Should that not be successfully filled by 30 th of March, the Organizing Team may decide to
give the slot to an external Participant.
Local Association Application Form
The Local Association Applicant Form should be submitted by the 24 th December 2018. It
must contain a sightseeing plan and Local Association description. A Local Coordinator
should be named with their contact details. It should contain at least two LA Board members’
signatures.
Applications will be looked through and there may be a possibility of rejection of the
application when there are not enough LAs to support the Project, no other LA in the vicinity
in order to reduce travel times and or on other logistical grounds.

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Participants
Participants
Participants should be 16 individuals, mostly young Europeans from the age of 16 to 18, that
are active in their Local Associations that have any of the following experiences by CISV -
International standards:
- Participant in a Youth Meeting 16-18 and or in a Step Up
- Junior Counselor in a CISV International Village
- Active participation in a local and or national MOSAIC Project
Participants have several responsibilities. These are divided into the following phases:
PrePTE Project
In the application phase, each participant should prepare the following:
- a project that they would like to execute in their own Local Associations.
The PTE Project will serve as a platform wherein they could plan and confront other
ideas and influences from other participants and their experiences in the other Local
Associations
- a kit of ready-to-go activities (at least one) that they could perform
anywhere without requiring extra materials. These activities should be interactive
and help reflect on the entire process of the PTE Project itself. They should also
take into account conditions such as train travel, waiting times, and whenever there
are free periods without anything planned.
After the application acceptance, the participants will be grouped into planning
groups. These planning groups will have the chance to discuss online (through
emails, Skype or through social media) to plan at least three ready-to-go activities
with the same conditions as before.
IntraPTE Project
In the execution phase of the Project, participants should take the Project into their
hands, meaning they will be responsible for themselves and taking care of each
other and their environments. They should participate in the activities planned by
other participants and in the Local Association planned in the Local Associations.
They will decide the rules of their community/participant group together with the
facilitators and focus on helping one another achieve the educational goals. They
will have to focus on the schedule and lead discussions on activities and the Local
Association experience.

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Participants
Do note: although, most of their experiences are based on discussions and this
opportunity does give them the chance to act, finding themselves in varied
environments and in contact with new realities, they should have the chance to
reflect and discuss these new experiences with what they already know.
Documentation is a very important part of this Project and a main responsibility of
the participants
Participation in the evaluations is also an important part of the being a PTE Project
participant.
PostPTE Project
At the end of the project, all documentation and evaluations should be sent back to
the Organizing team.
Several participants will randomly receive an invitation to participate in the PTE
Project review and audit. This is fundamental to the betterment of the PTE initiative.
Though it is not a must, each participant at the end of the project should send a
copy of the project they had planned to bring back to their LAs and if they had
executed it, a report on it. This will help secure the future of the PTE initiative.
Internal Participant
Each participating LA will have two allocated slots for participants, one male and one female.
The LAs may decide its own criteria in choosing the best participants, as long as the main
PTE criteria are satisfied.
Should the LA not be able to find participants to fill any of these slots, it may decide to give
the slots to another LA from the same country. Should any of the slots remain vacant by 30 th
of March, the Organizing Team would give them to externals.
External Participant
External Participants are participants that are not from the participating LAs and preferably
from countries other than those from the LAs. The selection process is albeit different from
Internal Participants.
External Participants will have to submit a letter of recommendation from their own LA board
and from their CISV National Junior Representative, approving their qualities to be part of
the Project. Since there is a weak methodology to following up on the projects they have
planned for their LAs or if the LAs they come from would eventually join or execute a PTE

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Participants
Project in the future. We do recommend that they do remain active in their LAs postPTE
Project and help with future development of the PTE initiative.
Values
- Open-Mindedness
- Flexibility
- Readiness to act and react
- Mental and Physical Endurance
- Interdependent Capability(able to work as a team but capable of taking own
initiative)
Participant Fee
Participant fees make up most if not all of the PTE Project Budget necessary for the
execution of the Project itself. Whilst we try to keep the fees as low as possible, we need to
iterate that other costs such as those for the facilitators are necessary.
We suggest a multi-tiered fundraising, from the participants themselves and the LAs as well
as the Organizing Team will try to access Funds and Scholarships internationally.
The Participant Fee shall not include: travel to the First and from the last LA Stays, pocket
money and emergency money. External participants would have to pay 150 Euros extra in
order to help reduce the costs for the LAs.
This year’s Internal Participant Fee: 790 Euros
External Participant Fee: 940 Euros
Recommendation of pocket money: 300 Euros per person
Recommendation of emergency money: 250 Euros per person
Participant Application Form and other documents
The Participant Application Form should be submitted until the 15 of February. Should there
be still open slots, the deadline will be extended until the end of March.
External Participants will have to submit two letters of recommendation, one from their LA
Board and one from their CISV National Junior Representative together with their application
form.

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Facilitators
Facilitators
Description
Facilitators are the three adult volunteer supervisors of the project. They should be at least
21 years old, preferably European citizens, with experience in CISV International programs
as staffs and leaders. They will be chosen independently by the Organizing team. They are
the official staffs of the PTE project.
Responsibilities
Facilitators are the official staff of the PTE Project but they have a clear role separated from
the participant group and the LCs.
Educators – they will have to monitor progress of the achievement of the Project’s
educational goals as well as following discussions, pitching in to further develop the
discussion as well as the participants’ points of view. In this view, they are to facilitate the
participants’ development while allowing them to take charge.
Guardians – they have an absolute role in safeguarding the wellbeing of the participants,
physically and emotionally. They will have to take charge in situations regarding security,
especially during the travel phases, or when it comes to the health of the participants.
Mediators – as mediators, they may have to handle conflicts as positive as possible while
maintaining a neutral role.
Coordinators – they will have to communicate as much as possible with the LCs to better
plan schedules and in case of situations beyond the control of the group such as travel
delays.
Trainers and Evaluators – training the participants at the beginning and helping them
evaluate themselves at the middle and end of the Project is their main responsibility. They
are also required to submit these evaluations to the Organizing Team. With their experience
and more neutral point of view
Requirements and characteristics
• At least 21 years of age
• Preferably a European citizen
• English fluency recommended
• A team player

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Facilitators
• Experience as a staff and/or a leader in a CISV International program desirable
• A keen observer
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Openminded
• Capable of remaining neutral
• Readiness to act and react
• Mental and Physical Endurance
• Attendance during the Training Days is a must
Facilitator Application Form
The Facilitator application form must be sent as soon as possible. Each applicant must send
two recommendation letters: one from the LA Board they are from and one from either their
last trainer or their CISV National Junior Representative if they are between 21 and 25 years
of age.
We may require a background check; the cost is included in the PTE Project Budget.
Facilitator Training Weekend
After the confirmation as a facilitator, the applicant is required to attend a Facilitator Training
Days. All facilitators involved in the Project will have to meet, for training, with a strong basis
on the educational goals and risk management, and for group building, in order to work
together flawlessly during the PTE Project.
The Facilitator Training Days would take a weekend, three days long, at best, several
months before the start of the Program.

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On Risk Management
On Risk Management
The PTE Project is not of course without risk. The modern world and its current situations
spell out another level of risk not to be underestimated. There will be two main points to be
discussed. The First Point is the Proactive approach
The Proactive approach contains two parts: training and insurance
Since the Facilitators will be heavy involved in safeguarding the safety of the group,
appropriate training will be designed for them. Therefore, it is of absolute importance that
they attend the Facilitator Training Weekend. Another training is planned during the first LA
Stay for the participants so that they as well understand that there are risks and how to
handle them.
Insurance is also a fundamental resource. All Participants should have a health insurance
with them and other insurance themes such as damage to third party property or damage in
general must be insured.
The second point is Damage Minimization and its communication protocol.
Should anything happen during the Project of a certain gravity, it shall be directly
communicated by the facilitators to the Organizing Team who shall then contact the
appropriate LC/Contact Person.
For example:
• Missing a train connection: The Organizing Team shall contact the next LA Stays
LC.
• Health issue of a participant: The Organizing Team shall contact the nearest LA
Stays LC and the LC of the participant’s LA who shall contact the family. For
external participants: The Organizing Team shall contact the participant’s Contact
Person directly.
• The Participant involved should not directly contact their contact persons unless
allowed to do so from by both Organizing Team and their Contact Person.

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Educational Approach
Educational Approach
The Peace Train Europe is heavily influenced from CISV International’s methodologies
although it remains independent as a volunteer initiative.
We follow through an experiential learning technique with a strong focus on hands-on
interactive activities that should help participants discuss and reflect so they could
eventually put their experiences into practice.
All activities and local assignments should be focused on PTE Project goals and
objectives.
Our educational goals are based on four principles:
Personal and Group entrepreneurship
Being able to take charge is not only an extremely important part of growing
in a participant’s own life but especially in the project. The project is strongly
based on the personal and interpersonal capability of leading. The project
has no fixed basis such as a camp or a group of families, rather the basis
are the participants and their facilitators themselves. Success strongly
depends on their actions and interactions.
Self-awareness
Travelling does bring the best and the worst of a person out into the open.
Being aware of one’s own capabilities, limits, weaknesses and strengths
before and developing them further during, would make a participant more
capable in facing the challenges of modern realities, eventually creating a
set of tools that could help them change the worlds they live in.
Active participation
Everyone must pull their own weight. While being able to take charge is a
skill that must be learned, active participation refers to actually taking part in
the day-to-day activities. This would further the skills needed in dealing with
interpersonal issues.
Active Global Citizenship
The most ethereal of concepts in many educational programs, especially in
those based on UNESCO’s Peace Education theory. What does it truly
mean to be an active global citizen? Does it mean think global, act local? Or
vice versa? What are the qualities of being an active global citizen? These
are perhaps the most important questions one must ask and through this
project, it would be placed in the limelight.

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Educational Approach
The Peace Train Europe Project Goals Evaluation Tool
I. to foster personal and group entrepreneurship in leading the project
• demonstrates innovation in fulfilling the project set goals
• actively participates in the diverse local projects set by the hosting Local Association
• demonstrates independence and initiative during the duration of the project
• actively plans, executes and evaluates activities based on themes chosen during the
project
II. to develop personal self-awareness
• Understands own limits and opportunities for personal growth
• displays understanding and knowledge of different leadership styles
• actively participates in the day-to-day activities and contributes their own opinion
• develops positive communication and active listening skills
III. to participate as an active member in a team
• respects and upholds cultural awareness, group set values and rules
• willingness to work in a diverse and changing group
• demonstrates skills in handling interpersonal conflicts
• capable of setting team outcomes and working towards fulfilling them
IV. to empower Active Global Citizenship
• displays understanding of the different situational circumstances of each Local
Association visited and their environment
• actively plans and sets goals for their own Local Association
• cultivates skills and critical problem solving necessary to their own personal realities
• participates in documenting Best Practices and willingly disseminates them

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Deadline Summary
Deadline Summary
24 th December: Local Association Applicant Form Submission
1 st February: Acceptance/Rejection of LA Applicant Form
15 th February: Participant Application Form Submission
28 th February: Facilitator Application Form Submission
1 st May: Approval/Cancellation of the PTE Project

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The Organizing Team
The Organizing Team
The Organizing Team is responsible for a complete overview of the PTE Project Plan,
mediation in the PTE Project Working Group and for the overall educational goals and
evaluation.
For more information, please contact us at peacetraineu@gmail.com
It currently consists of:
Edith Amalric
Grenoble, France
Kerstin Böttner
Ashausen, Germany
Walter Sergio Lugari
Solingen, Germany
And a pair Youth Representatives:
Milan Böttner
Ashausen, Germany
Clara Meyn
Lassrönne, Germany
Louise Velut
Grenoble, France