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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 29 through Tuesday August
10.
Kurume students will visit Modesto from and Saturday, August 14 through
Wednesday, August 25.
(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 Harrell at 535-1590 for the Laval Program.
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