Chiro

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Chirojeugd Vlaanderen
(Chiro)
logo
founding 1934
Seat Antwerp ( ⊙ coordinates: 51 ° 13 ′ 14 ″  N , 4 ° 23 ′ 59 ″  E )
main emphasis Catholic Youth Association
Members > 100,000
Website chiro.be

Chiro Flandern ( Dutch Chirojeugd Vlaanderen ) is a youth association in Flanders and Brussels , whose foundation and work is based on Christian values. With over 100,000 members, Chiro is the largest youth association in Belgium. At the international level, Chiro is a member of the international umbrella organization of Catholic youth organizations, Fimcap .

Surname

The name Chiro is based on the Christ monogram , the combination of the first letters chi (χ) and rho (ρ) of the Greek word Christos . The name was first used by the Belgian priest Jos Cleymans in an edition of Het Katholiek Patronaat to denote the Chirojeugd (Chirojugend).

history

The Chiro movement has its origins in meetings for young people after Sunday mass, in which Christian values ​​were taught and communicated, so-called "Patronats" (Dutch: "Patronaats"). In 1934 Jos Cleymans, a priest and from 1932 secretary of the "Flemish Youth Association for Catholic Action" (JVKA), used the term "Chiro" for the first time to name this youth movement. The movement's way of working became increasingly less formal and Chiro shifted its focus to joint games and activities. Cleymans tried to change the patronage into a modern youth movement. At the same time, more expressive practices and identifying features, such as banners, songs and marches, were introduced in Chiro in order to make a common identity of the various local groups visible. Cleymans was inspired by German Catholic youth organizations such as " Quickborn " and " New Germany " as well as the scout movement. During the Second World War , Chiro formulated a concept for his youth work that comprises three pillars:

  1. Chiro was divided into different departments (based on different age groups). Youth was led by young people. Each group was led by a leader and an assistant.
  2. Chiro developed a system of requirements.
  3. Chiro introduced a creed. This confession was a poetic text describing an ideal of life.

In the beginning only boys were accepted into Chiro. Later on, girls' groups were founded by Chiro, and mixed groups emerged. Today there are 282 local groups for girls, 237 for boys and 397 mixed groups.

structure

The members of Chiro are divided into different departments according to age groups. However, this classification is not binding and varies depending on the local groups:

  • Ribbels: 6–8 years (not present in every chiro group)
  • Speelclub: 8-10 years, if there are ribbels, elsewhere often 6-9 years
  • Rakwi: 10–12 years, if there are "ribbels" often 9–12 years (groups of boys are often also called rakkers and groups of girls kwiks )
  • Tito: 12-14 years (groups of boys are often also called toppers and groups of girls are called tippers )
  • Keti: 14-16 years (boys 'groups are often called "kerels" and girls' groups "tiptiens")
  • Aspi (rant): 16-18 years old
Chiro badges
Chiro badges, which symbolize belonging to different ages: "Ribbels" (violet), "Speelclub" (yellow), "Rakwi" (green), "Tito" (red), "Keti" (blue) and "Aspi" (orange)

Well-known Chiro members

A detailed list is available on the Chiro homepage.

Chiro organizations worldwide

Belgian missionaries also brought the concept of Chiro youth work to Latin America, Asia and Africa. Today there are therefore also chiro organizations in the Philippines (since 1952), Burundi, South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, the Democratic Republic of the Congo ("Kiro Congo") and Haiti ("Mouvement Kiro D'Haiti", since 1960).

All of these associations - including the original Chirojeugd Vlaanderen - are member associations in the umbrella organization for Catholic youth associations, Fimcap .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Cijfergegevens. In: Chiro website. Retrieved June 13, 2016 .
  2. ↑ Chiro is the greatest youth movement. In: Standaard. Retrieved June 13, 2016 .
  3. ↑ a b c Chirojeugd Vlaanderen - Flanders. fimcap.org, accessed June 13, 2016 .
  4. ↑ a b c Filip Coussée Griet Verschelden, Howard Williamson: The History of Youth Work in Europe: Relevance for Youth Policy Today . Council of Europe, 2012, ISBN 978-92-871-7244-0 (English, books.google.com ).
  5. ^ Walter Baeten: Patronage became Chiro: jeugdbeweging in Vlaanderen 1918–1950 . Davidsfonds, 1993 (Dutch, books.google.com ).
  6. ↑ Confess Chiro-Vlamingen. In: Chiro website. Retrieved June 13, 2016 .
  7. ^ History of Chiro in the Philippines. In: Chiro.ph website. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012 ; accessed on June 13, 2016 .
  8. ↑ Africa. In: FIMCAP website. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012 ; accessed on June 13, 2016 .
  9. ↑ MOUVEMENT KIRO D'HAITI. In: website of Mouvement Kiro D'Haiti. Retrieved June 13, 2016 .