Seventeen young people from the Hawkesbury, Kyotamba in Japan and Temple City in the USA are taking part in this year’s Hawkesbury Sister City Exchange Program and were welcomed and celebrated at a ceremony prior to Tuesday night’s Council meeting.
This exchange program is a proud tradition of over 40 years for the Hawkesbury. Each year, Hawkesbury students travel to Kyotamba and Temple City for a five-week exchange. In return, Hawkesbury families host students from Temple City and Kyotamba.
This year, the exchange program includes Japanese student Kokona Kitamura who is a second generation Hawkesbury Sister City Exchange Program participant, following in the footsteps of her father who travelled to the Hawkesbury as part of the exchange program in 1990.
All 17 students were presented with certificates in honour of their involvement in the program.
In addressing the students at the meeting, Hawkesbury City Mayor Les Sheather said: “This exchange program between Hawkesbury City Council, Temple City in the United States and Kyotamba in Japan has been a wonderful tradition since 1984.”
“While we may live in different parts of the world, this program reminds us that we share far more in common than we might expect, and the students taking part in the program this year, are experiencing this firsthand.”
“We wish you well on your travels and hope that this unique opportunity provides an experience and memories that you will carry with you always.”
