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TEMPE SISTER CITY CORPORATION
2008 STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM

Click here for more information about the application process.

The Sister City Concept: City affiliations between the United States and other countries became a national effort when President Eisenhower proposed the People-to-People program at a White House Conference in 1956. To date, 1,200 American cities representing all 50 states have affiliated with 2,100 cities in 125 countries around the world. The objective of the program is to create goodwill and further international understanding at the community level on a continuing, long-term basis. It is not a movement to convert others to our democratic ideals, but rather a way to help learn about the people of other countries, their customs, their similarities as well as differences, and help chart a better road to understanding in the world. The Sister City program provides a vehicle by which cities in the United States can find a forum for this interchange of information, ideas and people through the process of affiliation with cities of similar interests in other countries. The President of the United States has historically been the Honorary Chairman and the program has widespread support from the State Department down to the local City Council. Former Tempe Mayor and current State Senator, Harry Mitchell, is Vice President of the Tempe Sister City Corporation. Tempe's sister city relationships began with Skopje, Macedonia in 1971 and has grown with the affiliations of Regensburg, Germany in 1976, Lower Hutt, New Zealand in 1981, Zhenjiang, China and Timbuktu, Mali (Africa) in 1990, Beaulieu sur Mer, France in 1997 and Carlow, Ireland in 1998.

Purpose of Student Exchange: To provide an opportunity for Tempe students and families to develop understanding among the people of Regensburg, Skopje, Lower Hutt, Zhenjiang, Beaulieu sur Mer and Carlow through a family living experience. This year we expect to select twenty-eight students, with four traveling to Skopje, four to Zhenjiang, four to Lower Hutt, eight to Regensburg, four to Beaulieu sur Mer and four to Carlow for five weeks in June and July. The Tempe Sister City Corporation Selection Committee makes the final decision regarding the city to which each student will travel.

Student Responsibility Abroad: To be cooperative at every point of family living; to be helpful with the household and family duties; and to assume the same responsibility as the other members in the family. Each student is expected to participate in as many activities as possible and relate these learning experiences of living in a host country to others upon his/her return to Tempe.

Cost: All travel expenses will be paid by the Tempe Sister City Corporation and all delegates will be home hosted. Delegates are to provide their own spending money. All delegates home host their "brother/sister" for five weeks upon their return to Tempe. Group activities and fund raisers are planned to reduce the cost of hosting.

Student's Time Commitment: During the selection process, absence from an interview or selection activity will result in being disqualified. Once selected, all delegates are required to attend orientation and, if applicable, language classes prior to departure; participate in, and play an active role, in the Tempe Sister City Youth Group and its activities; give talks about the exchange experience; work at the organization's fund raisers and, in general, promote the exchange program.

Responsibility of Parents of Exchange Students: The Tempe Sister City organization and the Selection Committee need the support of the parents. Membership in the organization is required of the parents of the students selected for the program, at a cost of $25.00 per year for the family. All delegates’ families are required to home host the international "brother/sister" for approximately five weeks in July and August. The parents should be aware of the need to have their student available to participate in all activities and events upon their return home. Additionally, it is expected that the parents will participate in the organization's fund raising activities, which include but are not limited to the Tempe Sister City Way Out West Oktoberfest and activities at the Hackett House.


Click here for more information about the application process.