With the summer break in full steam, I would like to inform you of a wonderful program and opportunity to keep your students active during time off from their studies.
Mesa Sister Cities Youth Ambassador Program
The mission of Mesa Sister Cities is to promote international friendships through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation, one individual, one community at a time, in order to create longstanding international relationships. From the Mesa Sister Cities comes a great program that offers valuable experience and the kind of education that only comes from pushing the boundaries of one’s comfort zone.
Mesa Sister Cities Student Exchange Program provides an opportunity for high school students and their families living in Mesa to engage in a cross-cultural exchange. These students from Mesa fly to their designated country and experience a full immersion to be part of a different culture. City council members, educators and family hosts serve as guides to see the city with scheduled events and excursions. After several weeks in their destination, they return as a different person, with experiences and growth, which only comes from a living experience.
The family of the ambassador, with help, then hosts several weeks of the Mesa experience in return. Mesa Sister Cities invites the foreign exchange student to become fully immersed in our Southwestern culture. This means experiencing our city capitol, meetings with the mayor and participating in scheduled travels around town. There also is a trip to Disneyland and the Grand Canyon, as well as many more excursions with the host family.
This experience is life changing for all the families involved. Becoming an alumni ambassador and sharing with the next group of students to have this exchange experience is one of the unique ways to keep the journey alive within themselves.
For further information regarding this unique and rewarding program, visit the website mesasistercities.org.
If I can be of service to you, or you wish to speak with me, I can be reached via email at district5@mesaaz.gov, or by phone at (480) 644-3771.