APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR MINOKAMO SISTER CITY EXCHANGE
Applications for Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) Sister City Exchange Program with Minokamo are now open.
Students aged 15 to 18 who attend high school across the Dubbo Local Government Area are able to apply, along with adults interested in chaperoning the group.
Selected students and the chaperones will experience life in Japan by living abroad for two weeks and being hosted by families in Dubbo’s Sister City, Minokamo, Japan.
The Sister City Exchange Program provides the experience of a lifetime where students learn about Japanese culture first-hand and the day-to-day life of a different community.
DRC’s Sister City Officer Daisy Wang said 10 student positions are available for the Minokamo Exchange Program and two chaperone positions.
“We encourage interested students and to apply and experience this unique opportunity to learn about Japanese culture and customs first-hand.”
The Sister City Exchange Program runs during the September school holidays from 29 September to 11 October 2024. The trip includes three nights and two days in Tokyo, touring the city and visiting Tokyo Disneyland as well as a homestay with a local Minokamo family.
“Successful student applicants will attend school abroad and see what school learning is like in Japan where they will have the opportunity to make new friends.”
This Sister City Exchange Program is very affordable with Council providing a subsidy of $1000 for each successful student and chaperone applicants to the program to offset airfares and travel costs.
“The cost to participate in the Exchange Program is very affordable, there are very few accommodation costs as student’s homestay with local families in Minokamo. This provides students with a support base during their stay but also a close-up experience of host family’s different traditions and customs,” Ms Wang said.
The Sister City Exchange Program is reciprocal, so all participating Dubbo exchange students and their chaperones also host a visitor from Minokamo in July/August 2024 when the exchange group visit Dubbo.
Applications for the Sister City Exchange program are now open and close on 15 April 2024.
For more information and to apply visit www.dubbo.nsw.gov.au, and search for Sister City Student Exchange in the Community and Groups section.
Last Edited: 13 Feb 2024