Category: International News

Fort Worth Ambassadors Travel to Germany, Japan and Swaziland

Posted on by Fort Worth Sister Cities
Fort Worth, Texas – Sister Cities sends goodwill ambassadors to 3 Sister Cities Exchange programs are what it’s all about for Fort Worth Sister Cities.  This summer    delegations will visit three of Fort Worth’s eight sister cities including a Service Adventure group of 9 students and adults visiting Mbabane, Swaziland; 8 students and teacher   traveling to Trier, Germany; and 28 traveling to Nagoaka, Japan including members of the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra celebrating Fort Worth’s 25th anniversary with Nagaoka with a gift of music. Exchanges with each of Fort Worth’s sister cities provide youth the opportunity to spend 9-15 days with an international host family, attend schools, make presentations about Texas and the United States and experience the local history, culture and customs.  This is done as citizen diplomats and gives participants a better understanding of other cultures and gives the host cities a better understanding of the U.S. “Students and adults  who participate in outbound exchanges  experience personal growth,  expand their capacity to understand the world as seen through the eyes of    others,  and gain an appreciation of the interconnectedness of all humans regardless of geographical location,” said Sister Cities board member and Mbabane, Swaziland Chair, Dr. Staussa Ervin. Art teachers from Fort Worth ISD will also accompany the group to Swaziland and work with the people of Mbabane on art projects to include painting a mural in the Central  Library of Mbabane.  The Trier, Germany group are taking a City of Fort Worth flag to be hung at the Trier Rathaus (City Hall) to celebrate 25 years of partnership.

2012-05-25 12:01

Fort Worth Ambassadors Travel to Germany, Japan and Swaziland

Fort Worth, Texas – Sister Cities sends goodwill ambassadors to 3 Sister Cities Exchange programs are what it’s all about for Fort Worth Sister Cities.  This summer    delegations will visit three of Fort Worth’s eight sister cities including a Service Adventure group of 9 students and adults visiting Mbabane, Swaziland; 8 students and teacher   traveling to Trier, Germany; and 28 traveling to Nagoaka, Japan including members of the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra celebrating Fort Worth’s 25th anniversary with Nagaoka with a gift of music. Exchanges with each of Fort Worth’s sister cities provide youth the opportunity to spend 9-15 days with an international host family, attend schools, make presentations about Texas and the United States and experience the local history, culture and customs.  This is done as citizen diplomats and gives participants a better understanding of other cultures and gives the host cities a better understanding of the U.S. “Students and adults  who participate in outbound exchanges  experience personal growth,  expand their capacity to understand the world as seen through the eyes of    others,  and gain an appreciation of the interconnectedness of all humans regardless of geographical location,” said Sister Cities board member and Mbabane, Swaziland Chair, Dr. Staussa Ervin. Art teachers from Fort Worth ISD will also accompany the group to Swaziland and work with the people of Mbabane on art projects to include painting a mural in the Central  Library of Mbabane.  The Trier, Germany group are taking a City of Fort Worth flag to be hung at the Trier Rathaus (City Hall) to celebrate 25 years of partnership.

Sister Cities to Conduct Young Professionals Business Exchange

Posted on by Fort Worth Sister Cities
Applicants being recruited for Japanese Business Mentorship Program APPLICATION DEADLINE: JUNE 1st
For Immediate Release
May 16, 2012
Fort Worth Sister Cities is now accepting applications for its Young Professionals Japanese Mentorship Program to be conducted this fall.  Applicants are being recruited from area businesses focused on:  global logistics/transportation, arts/culture, or small businesses. Fort Worth Sister Cities was notified by Sister Cities International that Fort Worth had been selected as one of seven U.S. cities to receive Leading Asia: Renewing the U.S. and Japan Sister Cities Network exchange funding.  Through this funding Fort Worth is looking to strengthen its business relationship with Nagaoka, Japan, as well as develop a Young     Professionals Mentorship Program. Young professionals (age 25—40) will work for ten days alongside their counterparts in  Nagaoka, Japan while being home hosted.  In 2013, Japanese young professionals will   participate in similar mentorships in Fort Worth.  Selected participants will gain:
  • International work experience
  • Expanded business networks
  • Japanese protocol training
  • Perspectives on global marketplaces
“We believe that businesses  in both cities will see the value of this program and sustain it for many years to come.  We would like to make this an annual exchange expanding into many areas of economic development,” said Renee Snoke, Chair of  Sister Cities’ Emerging Leaders Network. Limited partial scholarships are available and applications must be received by June 1st.  For more information, contact beth@fwsistercities.org or call 817/632-7105 or visit www.fwsistercities.org.

2012-05-15 03:30

Sister Cities to Conduct Young Professionals Business Exchange

Applicants being recruited for Japanese Business Mentorship Program APPLICATION DEADLINE: JUNE 1st

For Immediate Release
May 16, 2012
Fort Worth Sister Cities is now accepting applications for its Young Professionals Japanese Mentorship Program to be conducted this fall.  Applicants are being recruited from area businesses focused on:  global logistics/transportation, arts/culture, or small businesses. Fort Worth Sister Cities was notified by Sister Cities International that Fort Worth had been selected as one of seven U.S. cities to receive Leading Asia: Renewing the U.S. and Japan Sister Cities Network exchange funding.  Through this funding Fort Worth is looking to strengthen its business relationship with Nagaoka, Japan, as well as develop a Young     Professionals Mentorship Program. Young professionals (age 25—40) will work for ten days alongside their counterparts in  Nagaoka, Japan while being home hosted.  In 2013, Japanese young professionals will   participate in similar mentorships in Fort Worth.  Selected participants will gain:
  • International work experience
  • Expanded business networks
  • Japanese protocol training
  • Perspectives on global marketplaces
“We believe that businesses  in both cities will see the value of this program and sustain it for many years to come.  We would like to make this an annual exchange expanding into many areas of economic development,” said Renee Snoke, Chair of  Sister Cities’ Emerging Leaders Network. Limited partial scholarships are available and applications must be received by June 1st.  For more information, contact beth@fwsistercities.org or call 817/632-7105 or visit www.fwsistercities.org.

Health & Social Center opened by group in Swaziland

Posted on by Fort Worth Sister Cities

Rotary Reading Corner also dedicated

Fort Worth Sister City’s team of ten, headed by board chair Brad Mahon, traveled to Fort Worth’s sister city of Mbabane, Swaziland in February to dedicate a community health and social center the group helped design and build. “To actually be there for the dedication and to see the finished product was very rewarding,” said Brad Mahon. “There are many people we need to thank for helping make this possible including Freese & Nichols who helped with the initial design, and individuals too numerous to mention,” continued Mahon. The goal of the health center is to improve the health and wellbeing of people in the Nkwalini Zone of Mbabane. The clinic will improve accessibility of health and social services to a community of over 1,500 people providing access to immunization and HIV/AIDS counseling, as well as food and nutrition for orphaned and vulnerable children. The Rotary Reading Corner was also dedicated. The team from Fort Worth brought over 300 books to open the reading corner. Students and teachers going on an exchange in June will take even more books, along with future exchanges, to sustain the library for the children. While there, members of the group researched future Rotary wheelchair projects with local Rotary clubs. Fort Worth Sister Cities was awarded a three-year, $115,000 grant by Sister Cities International funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to construct the community health center in Mbabane, Swaziland as part of the Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program. Fort Worth was one of 28 cities to receive funding for the center after a competitive process of all U.S. sister cities organizations with African partners. For more information, please contact Mae Ferguson, President/CEO at 817/632-7104 or mae@fwsistercities.org.

2012-03-15 11:01

Health & Social Center opened by group in Swaziland

Rotary Reading Corner also dedicated

Fort Worth Sister City’s team of ten, headed by board chair Brad Mahon, traveled to Fort Worth’s sister city of Mbabane, Swaziland in February to dedicate a community health and social center the group helped design and build. “To actually be there for the dedication and to see the finished product was very rewarding,” said Brad Mahon. “There are many people we need to thank for helping make this possible including Freese & Nichols who helped with the initial design, and individuals too numerous to mention,” continued Mahon. The goal of the health center is to improve the health and wellbeing of people in the Nkwalini Zone of Mbabane. The clinic will improve accessibility of health and social services to a community of over 1,500 people providing access to immunization and HIV/AIDS counseling, as well as food and nutrition for orphaned and vulnerable children. The Rotary Reading Corner was also dedicated. The team from Fort Worth brought over 300 books to open the reading corner. Students and teachers going on an exchange in June will take even more books, along with future exchanges, to sustain the library for the children. While there, members of the group researched future Rotary wheelchair projects with local Rotary clubs. Fort Worth Sister Cities was awarded a three-year, $115,000 grant by Sister Cities International funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to construct the community health center in Mbabane, Swaziland as part of the Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program. Fort Worth was one of 28 cities to receive funding for the center after a competitive process of all U.S. sister cities organizations with African partners. For more information, please contact Mae Ferguson, President/CEO at 817/632-7104 or mae@fwsistercities.org.

Photos with Santa Benefit Youth Scholarships for 10 Years Thanks to Sundance Square

Posted on by Fort Worth Sister Cities

A heartfelt thank you to Sundance Square for their support over the last ten years and their commitment to global education for students. Sundance supports Sister Cities in many ways corporately but the Sundance Santa partnership is very unique. 100% of proceeds made from photos taken with Sundance Santa has provided over $110,000 for youth scholarships giving students an international perspective by participating in Sister Cities programs. Each year Sundance has provided all the camera equipment, film, giveaways for the children, and a wonderful Santa Claus with his beautiful sleigh and holiday setting to take photos for special holiday memories. Our partnership began with just one Polaroid camera in 2002 to this year’s high tech printers and digital cameras. Sister Cities has provided more than 2,000 students, parents and teacher volunteers to take the photos and to serve as Santa’s helpers thereby creating a magical partnership.

Thank you Sundance Square!  

2011-12-16 06:27

Photos with Santa Benefit Youth Scholarships for 10 Years Thanks to Sundance Square

A heartfelt thank you to Sundance Square for their support over the last ten years and their commitment to global education for students. Sundance supports Sister Cities in many ways corporately but the Sundance Santa partnership is very unique. 100% of proceeds made from photos taken with Sundance Santa has provided over $110,000 for youth scholarships giving students an international perspective by participating in Sister Cities programs. Each year Sundance has provided all the camera equipment, film, giveaways for the children, and a wonderful Santa Claus with his beautiful sleigh and holiday setting to take photos for special holiday memories. Our partnership began with just one Polaroid camera in 2002 to this year’s high tech printers and digital cameras. Sister Cities has provided more than 2,000 students, parents and teacher volunteers to take the photos and to serve as Santa’s helpers thereby creating a magical partnership.

Thank you Sundance Square!