Sister Cities of Morgan Hill has expanded its programs to allow local families and teens age 14-17 to participate in a cultural exchange with sister city San Casciano, Tuscany, Italy.
The new program is comprised of two phases: the first is chaperoned and guided travel for participating teens this summer to San Casciano; and the second is Morgan Hill families hosting an Italian teenager in their homes a year later.
Sister Cities is developing the San Casciano Exchange Program to give Morgan Hill teens a chance to learn about, share and explore an international experience, as well as form life-long friendships and memories, according to organizers.
During exchanges between San Casciano and Morgan Hill, teens can expect to actively participate in the local lifestyle, live host families’ routine, and enjoy group excursions showcasing the local area—both in Italy and when hosting in Morgan Hill.
Sister Cities is kicking off the first phase by actively looking for teens who are interested in the travel excursion planned for mid- to late-July 2018. The Italian families hosting in July 2018 have been identified and are committed to offer each teen guest the opportunity of living the local Italian lifestyle as a member of the family
Two information sessions are scheduled: Tuesday, Jan. 30 or Wednesday, Feb. 7, both 7pm at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, Madrone Meeting Room, 17000 Monterey Road.
Contact
am********@gm***.com
for questions, details and to express interest.
The second phase is slated for summer 2019, and will give those first phase participants, plus other interested families wishing to join the program, a chance to host an Italian teen also between the ages of 14-17.
“While the exchange is still in its infancy, I believe we are at the start of something that will one day be a great asset to Morgan Hill’s reputation as a vibrant, local community with a wealth of opportunities for families,” said Pier Antoniucci, San Casciano Exchange Program chairperson for Sister Cities. “The group of teens who join the program early will be a big part of shaping the program’s entire future. I know Sister Cities and San Casciano have a lot to offer, and I hope there are families out there who would like to become a part of it. We are very excited to move it forward at last.”
Exchange Programs in Morgan Hill
Morgan Hill already has an educational exchange program with its sister city Mizuho, Japan. The Mizuho Morgan Hill Student Exchange Program has a long history of sending and receiving middle school-aged children between Morgan Hill and Mizuho. It, too, alternates between Morgan Hill kids traveling to Mizuho one year and then hosting Mizuho children the following year. The group is now getting ready to send Morgan Hill students to Mizuho, Japan, in the summer of 2018.
Part of its preparations include the Haru Matsuri Spring Festival, scheduled from 11am to 4pm, April 22 at the Buddhist Community Center; and, a Goodwill Truck donation on April 28, location pending.
MMHSEP can be reached at
mi**************@gm***.com
.
The San Casciano Exchange Program aims to build on the Mizuho team’s success and extend the international travel experience to older teens, according to organizers. Like the Mizuho program, the San Casciano team will also encourage a direct connection and friendship between families of the two cities before and after the travel period.
“The Mizuho program is very popular, and students always return from Japan with some of the greatest memories that will stick with them for life,” said Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate. “The Mizuho exchange is such a highlight for Morgan Hill, and I am particularly pleased to see something similar for more teens wishing to experience Italy and show off what Morgan Hill has to offer. The Italian exchange will have some key differences in this early stage of program development, but still offers great benefits as it kicks off and expands in the future.”
About Sister Cities of Morgan Hill
Sister Cities is an all-volunteer membership organization formed over 10 years ago. It currently hosts relationships with five international cities: San Casciano, Italy; Seferihisar, Turkey; San Martin de Hidalgo, Mexico; Mizuho, Japan; and Headford, Ireland.
Morgan Hill’s Sister City program is modeled on Sister Cities International (sistercities.org), a worldwide organization that fosters connections between cities, counties or states. Connections between cities are usually based on shared similarities that can expand into a more thorough cultural exchange. Most Sister Cities organizations are comprised of volunteers, with the support of their local, elected officials. Sister Cities of Morgan Hill is under the fiscal sponsorship of the nonprofit Morgan Hill Community Foundation, morganhillcf.org. They receive funding from private voluntary donations and fundraisers.
The San Casciano Exchange Program is one of the multiple activities within Sister Cities of Morgan Hill. Its chairperson, Pier Antoniucci, moved from Italy to California in 1986 as a high tech industry executive, then retired to Morgan Hill approximately six years ago. He became a member of the Sister Cities of Morgan Hill several years ago with the prime objective of revitalizing the formal relationship with San Casciano.
Antoniucci traveled to San Casciano in October 2017 to represent Morgan Hill in a series of meetings with the San Casciano civic leaders who are leading the program for the participating Italian families and teens.
About San Casciano
San Casciano in Val Di Pesa is a commune in the Province of Florence, Tuscany. It is part of the Chianti region and offers many cultural highlights of its own, as well as being centrally located in one of the most popular and picturesque regions of Italy. It is the birthplace of Machiavelli and surrounded by an atmosphere of the Renaissance, closely situated 10 miles from Florence. San Casciano was chosen as a Sister City with Morgan Hill because of its similarities in geography, agricultural output and residential size.
What: San Casciano Exchange Program
Who: Sister Cities of Morgan Hill
When: Tuesday, Jan. 30 or Wednesday, Feb. 7, both 7pm
Where: Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, Madrone Meeting Room, 17000 Monterey Road.
How: Contact
am********@gm***.com
for questions, details and to express interest.
Upcoming fundraisers
• Haru Matsuri Spring Festival, scheduled from 11am to 4pm, April 22 at the Buddhist Community Center
• Goodwill Truck donation on April 28, location pending.
While the exchange is still in its infancy, I believe we are at the start of something that will one day be a great asset to Morgan Hill’s reputation as a vibrant, local community with a wealth of opportunities for families.
