Walnut Creek Sister Cities International Youth Ambassador Exchange to Italy

We are look forward to re-starting the program after a 4 year hiatus due to COVID-19 and hope to send a cohort of 8th graders in the fall of 2023.

Since 2012, WCSCI has organized annual exchanges for 8th grade students to our two sister cities. The program is referred to Youth Ambassador Exchange or YAE!!, the two exclamation marks representing our two sister cities.

Students residing in Walnut Creek travel on a 10 day home stay with a family in one of our sister cities, Siófok, Hungary or Noceto, Italy. This is not a school organized program, however we keep the schools informed of the program dates and activities, and have been fortunate to work with supportive staff and administration. In addition to the student ambassadors, parent chaperone(s) and a teacher chaperone accompany the kids on this adventure of a lifetime!

The students get an opportunity to experience life as a teenager in another country, learn about a new culture, and gain experience in travel and independence. The student ambassadors are matched up with a host student and family, and become part of their family for a week. There are daily group activities organized by our hosts that provide our ambassadors with an opportunity to experience their culture. Examples of the actives include: visiting the school, meeting with city officials, learning about regional industries, visiting nearby sites and cities, and experiencing everyday life; such as bike riding with friends around town or going to the local market.

This is a 100% volunteer run program organized by current WCSCI members and participating students and families. All the families that participate are responsible for organizing host week for our friends that travel to Walnut Creek in the spring (typically in April). We have found that the participating families are always eager and excited to showcase our city to our friends, and return the hospitality their child received in the host cities.