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Modesto Sister Cities International (MSCI) is
seeking high school and college applicants for the annual Youth Exchange
Program this summer. The purpose of the program is to promote international
understanding and friendship, and to give our students a chance to
experience another culture first-hand. Successful applicants will act as
Youth Ambassadors representing not only the City of Modesto but also
California and the United States. Students will stay with selected families
of the host-city and will be provided with an extensive array of educational
programs, cultural activities, and field trips during their visit.
Kurume Youth Exchange
Flyer!!
Laval Youth
Exchange Flyer!!
Kurume/Modesto exchange:
Modesto students will visit Kurume from Thursday, July 24 through Tuesday, August
5.
Kurume students will visit Modesto from Saturday, August 9 through Tuesday, August
19. (Arrival and departure dates are approximate)
KURUME, JAPAN
This Youth Exchange program was started in 1992. Kurume is a city of 250,000
people located on the southern-most island of Kyushu. In Kurume, the program
is managed by the Kurume International Exchange Association (KIEA). The
Kurume program is highly structured. Students selected for this program will
have the opportunity to visit cities such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Nagasaki, as
well as participate in various cultural activities. The students will also
participate in their annual Water Festival activities, including marching in
the parade. Japanese language is not required for selection in this program.
Some basic Japanese phrases will be included as part of the orientation
program.
Laval/Modesto exchange:
Stanislaus County students will visit Laval from Friday, June 10 through
Sunday, July 2.
Laval students will visit Modesto on various dates depending on their
internship program. (Arrival and departure dates are approximate)
Cost:
Approximately $1300 is needed for airfare to Japan. There are additional
expenses for passports, health insurance, gifts for host families, and
spending money.
Chaperones:
Accompanying students to Japan will be one male and one female. Additional
chaperones will be added as needed.
Students traveling to France will not be
chaperoned.
Application Process:
All forms in the Modesto Sister Cities Summer Youth Exchange Application
Packet must be completed. Also, two references, a current photo of the
applicant and one of the applicant’s family, and a personal letter
explaining why the applicant would like to travel to this city.
Forms and Requirements
Since the Youth Exchange Program is a function of Modesto Sister Cites International, all travelers need to be members of MSCI. This can be done at the minimum level of $20.00. Membership levels can be accessed and printed out on the MSCI Member and Interest Form.
Accepted applicants will be required to purchase (at a low cost) medical
health insurance provided through Sister Cities International. Successful
applicants and their parents/guardian will be asked to sign a “hold
harmless” agreement with Modesto Sister Cities International and provide all
emergency information required by MSCI. Applicants are selected on the basis
of academic achievement, community involvement, good citizenship, and
recommendation of community members and school staff. Personalities must be
adaptable, flexible and sensitive to group dynamics, ability to be a team
player as demonstrated by applicant’s recommendations from references and
educational professionals. Modesto residents currently enrolled as a 9th,
10th, or 11th grader in a local high school are eligible to apply. All
applicants must be available for a personal interview.
Orientations:
All students and chaperones will be REQUIRED to attend orientation sessions
(parents will be required to attend some, but not all of the orientation
sessions). These sessions will vary depending on the country you will be
visiting. The orientation sessions are designed to help the students with
basic language skills, acquaint them with the life and culture of the city
and country they will visit, assist them with travel arrangements, and
provide any other information needed to make these trips a success.
Other information:
All exchange programs are reciprocal. Families of students chosen for this
program will be expected to host incoming students. Students may be asked to
help promote the exchange program for next year. There will be a mandatory
orientation meeting for host families to explain the schedule and
expectations.
Modesto Sister Cities International is a
non-profit organization that has five sister cities: Aguascalientes, Mexico;
Khmelnitskiy, Ukraine; Kurume, Japan; Vernon, British Columbia, Canada; and
Vijayawada, India. Youth Exchanges have taken place for many years with our
Sister Cities in Mexico, Canada and Japan.
For additional information:
Contact Nancy Holmes at 765-9290 for the
Kurume Program.
Contact Adrian Eshagh at 535-1590 for the Laval Program.
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