LIVERMORE, CA — 20 Livermore eighth graders, five parent chaperones, and eight delegates will leave Thursday for Japan as part of the annual Livermore Yotsukiado Student Ambassador Program.
The exchange program is organized by the Livermore Yotsukiado Sister City Organization, an organization founded in 1977 to foster cultural exchanges with Livermore’s sister city in Japan. The exchange program began in 2001, and restarted after the pandemic.
Following a rigorous application and interview process, 20 Livermore students are paired with a family in Yotsukaido, a city of 95,000 located about an hour east of Tokyo with a similar population and socioeconomic profile to Livermore. Students attend attend school with their host family’s student, and learn key Japanese words in order to communicate.
While the youth are at school, the adult chaperones spend time with representatives from the Yotsukaido Cross Cultural Association, where they tour the city, visit shrines, and share cultures.
In March, delegations from Yotsukaido visit Livermore and stay with families. They also tour San Francisco and nearby surroundings.
“I started as a chaperone when my daughter went in 2007 and have been involved ever since,” LYSCO President Keith Jess said in a statement. “I really enjoy meeting the students and their families. My family has made some very good friends in Japan, and I can’t wait to see them all again.”
“This is more than an exchange; it is a life-changing experience,” said Livermore Mayor John Marchand. “The LYSCO program creates lifelong friendships and fosters a greater understanding between our cultures, and I have had the privilege of seeing the remarkable impact it has on our participants firsthand.”
For more information on the Livermore Yotsukaido Sister City program, visit the LYSCO website or email lysco2014@gmail.com.
AloJapan.com