MINOKAMO EXCHANGE STUDENTS TOUCH DOWN IN DUBBO REGION
Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) has welcomed students from Japanese Sister City, Minokamo, this week as the annual student exchange program between the two cities gets underway.
The students, who were greeted at the airport by Council staff and their homestay families, they will enjoy 10 action-packed days in the Dubbo Region, experiencing the region’s touristic hotspots, shopping precincts, and high schools.
Highlights of the program for the visiting students include experiencing the Western Plains Cultural Centre, Wellington Caves and Taronga Western Plains Zoo, while also spending time at their host student’s respective high school where they will get a glimpse into Australian high school life.
DRC Deputy Mayor Richard Ivey said Sister City relationships bring many benefits to the regions that enter into them, including the highly popular student exchange program.
“Sister City relations bring benefits in terms of trade, tourism, and cross-cultural understanding.”
“The student exchange program allows students from the Dubbo Region and Minokamo to learn about each other’s culture and way of life and build an understanding and appreciation of the different ways that people live around the world”.
“This will be a special experience that the students will always remember,” Clr Ivey said.
Sister Cities Officer Daisy Wang said the exchange program was always an exciting time for the Dubbo Region and Minokamo.
“It was fantastic to welcome the Minokamo students and their chaperones to Dubbo Region this week.”
“Our students were very excited to meet their Minokamo colleagues; you could tell from the buzz that they are going to have a great time over the coming days,” Ms Wang said.
Ten students and two chaperones from the Dubbo Region will travel to Minokamo in September to stay with a homestay family and experience the Minokamo region.
On a global level, the Sister City program is recognised as an important means to build international goodwill and to further global social and economic development based on co-operation at the local level.
Last Edited: 31 Jul 2024