DIG INTO GOULASH & CULTURE!

Save November 12th for a new event to bring a little bit of Hungary to Fort Worth.  There will be a goulash contest, plus a conversation with Hungarian author Emmerich Koller. More information will be available soon.  And if you are interested in learning more about Hungary, check our next June’s trip to Budapest and Vienna, Austria.    

Zaji Girl Magazine Features Sister Cities Delegation to Swaziland

Sharing stories is one of the best parts of the Fort Worth Sister Cities experience.  Denise, a young writer for Zaji Magazine, recently shared her favorite memories with us including a link to the article she wrote about her trip to Swaziland.

“I just wanted to get back with you and tell you how much I enjoyed my trip to Swaziland in June.  Staussa was a wonderful delegation leader and the kids were fantastic!

One of the projects that has been born out of my trip came from a wonderful experience I had with Staussa’s host mom, Ms. Ellen Matsenjwa. She took us to a recycling center to a women’s cooperative where the women are making jewelry out of recycled magazines and newspapers. I bought a couple of items and have had so many compliments on the jewelry. One of the needs, Ms. Matsenjwa pointed out was that especially in the Nkwalini community where the health center was built that clean water was still a major need.   

I discovered this Swedish company that makes solar-powered water purification units and thought that would be a wonderful fundraising goal for Nkwalini. To raise money to buy these solar-powered water purification units and by selling the jewelry being made from Swaziland. I promised I’d check out some hotels and boutiques for the women’s cooperative that might be interested in their jewelry and have had a couple of strong candidates.

It definitely gave me a chance to assess the country and the projects that I want to pursue personally and for my magazine.

I wanted to share the links with you for the magazine Summer/Fall 2013 issue which features HRH Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini of Swaziland and also the photo story I did featuring the Fort Worth Sister Cities Mbabane delegation. Please feel free to share it with everyone.

     

A couple of the kids wanted me to feature their photographs in the magazine. I didn’t get opportunity to do that with this issue, but I was thinking we could put together a mini mag with their experiences and give them a chance to share their Swaziland adventure and continue with a global community service project back at home.

I really enjoyed my time in Swaziland and will definitely head back soon.

Thanks again.
 ~ Denise”
We’d love to hear your stories too!  Contact us or tag us in your facebook pics.

2013-09-23 03:11

Zaji Girl Magazine Features Sister Cities Delegation to Swaziland

Sharing stories is one of the best parts of the Fort Worth Sister Cities experience.  Denise, a young writer for Zaji Magazine, recently shared her favorite memories with us including a link to the article she wrote about her trip to Swaziland.

“I just wanted to get back with you and tell you how much I enjoyed my trip to Swaziland in June.  Staussa was a wonderful delegation leader and the kids were fantastic!

One of the projects that has been born out of my trip came from a wonderful experience I had with Staussa’s host mom, Ms. Ellen Matsenjwa. She took us to a recycling center to a women’s cooperative where the women are making jewelry out of recycled magazines and newspapers. I bought a couple of items and have had so many compliments on the jewelry. One of the needs, Ms. Matsenjwa pointed out was that especially in the Nkwalini community where the health center was built that clean water was still a major need.   

I discovered this Swedish company that makes solar-powered water purification units and thought that would be a wonderful fundraising goal for Nkwalini. To raise money to buy these solar-powered water purification units and by selling the jewelry being made from Swaziland. I promised I’d check out some hotels and boutiques for the women’s cooperative that might be interested in their jewelry and have had a couple of strong candidates.

It definitely gave me a chance to assess the country and the projects that I want to pursue personally and for my magazine.

I wanted to share the links with you for the magazine Summer/Fall 2013 issue which features HRH Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini of Swaziland and also the photo story I did featuring the Fort Worth Sister Cities Mbabane delegation. Please feel free to share it with everyone.

     

A couple of the kids wanted me to feature their photographs in the magazine. I didn’t get opportunity to do that with this issue, but I was thinking we could put together a mini mag with their experiences and give them a chance to share their Swaziland adventure and continue with a global community service project back at home.

I really enjoyed my time in Swaziland and will definitely head back soon.

Thanks again.
 ~ Denise”
We’d love to hear your stories too!  Contact us or tag us in your facebook pics.

TRADE MISSION TO SOUTH KOREA IN SEPTEMBER

Sister Cities Partnering with Chambers Because of Fort Worth’s strong sister city partnerships with Toluca, Mexico and Bandung, Indonesia, the City of Suwon, S. Korea has suggested a future relationship be established between Fort Worth and Suwon.  Suwon is already sister cities with Toluca and Bandung. To look at this possibility and gather additional information, Sister Cities has partnered with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Greater Dallas Korean Chamber of Commerce on a trade mission to Suwon September 24-28.  Eight delegates will travel to Suwon led by Sister Cities Long Range Chair, Julie Johncox. “This is our first step in determining if partnering with Suwon will be beneficial for Fort Worth.  Fort Worth is eager to connect with the world and this could be very good for our city both economically and educationally,” said Ms. Johncox. “I’ve traveled to S. Korea several times and it’s a very interesting culture with a growing   economy. It could be interesting to partner with them,” said City Councilman Dennis Shingleton. This mission and a reciprocal visit to Fort Worth by South Korean companies this Fall are being sponsored by the Suwon city government.  A major city with over a million inhabitants, Suwon is an industrial center served by two motorways and the national railway network facilitating transport of commuters, tourists, and goods alike. Suwon is a major educational center, being home to 14 university campuses.

2013-09-23 12:07

TRADE MISSION TO SOUTH KOREA IN SEPTEMBER

Sister Cities Partnering with Chambers Because of Fort Worth’s strong sister city partnerships with Toluca, Mexico and Bandung, Indonesia, the City of Suwon, S. Korea has suggested a future relationship be established between Fort Worth and Suwon.  Suwon is already sister cities with Toluca and Bandung. To look at this possibility and gather additional information, Sister Cities has partnered with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce and Greater Dallas Korean Chamber of Commerce on a trade mission to Suwon September 24-28.  Eight delegates will travel to Suwon led by Sister Cities Long Range Chair, Julie Johncox. “This is our first step in determining if partnering with Suwon will be beneficial for Fort Worth.  Fort Worth is eager to connect with the world and this could be very good for our city both economically and educationally,” said Ms. Johncox. “I’ve traveled to S. Korea several times and it’s a very interesting culture with a growing   economy. It could be interesting to partner with them,” said City Councilman Dennis Shingleton. This mission and a reciprocal visit to Fort Worth by South Korean companies this Fall are being sponsored by the Suwon city government.  A major city with over a million inhabitants, Suwon is an industrial center served by two motorways and the national railway network facilitating transport of commuters, tourists, and goods alike. Suwon is a major educational center, being home to 14 university campuses.

Educators Selected as International Academic Ambassador Chairs

Sister Cities Partners with Area Schools on Global Fluency Fort Worth Sister Cities welcomed and recognized the newly appointed International Academic Ambassador Chairs recently at a reception held in the Botanic Gardens. These educators are selected by the principals in their schools to serve in this capacity for one academic year. Since 1999, Sister Cities International has established a successful network of school partnerships with public and private middle and high schools with the specific goal of creating and promoting awareness of international educational opportunities for Fort Worth youth and educators. These Ambassador Chairs continue to be an invaluable component of Sister Cities’ international programs to provide youth with relevant cultural experiences preparing them to be successful in today’s global society and workplace.  And, for the teachers, these programs serve as a resource for global educational enrichment.   As we begin the new school year, Fort Worth Sister Cities has planned numerous international initiatives in which local youth and teachers are invited to participate. Congratulations to the 2013/14 Class:
All Saints Episcopal School Angela Kornman
Applied Learning Academy Kimberley Hanna
Arlington Heights High School Sefakor Amaa
Boswell High School Heath Dollar
Carter-Riverside, Amon High School Robert Landreaux 
Como Montessori Middle School Julie Mullender
Chisholm Trail High School Janet C. Reynolds
Daggett Montessori Middle School Lori Zarate
Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School Liliana Hinojosa
Dunbar High School Shatiqueka Carson
Elder, J.P. Matti Kruse
Fort Worth Academy Chandra Hough
Fort Worth Country Day School (MS) Tara Forrest 
Fort Worth Country Day School Dr. James Aldridge
Hill School of Fort Worth Roxann Breyer
International Newcomer Academy (HS/MS) Kelly McDaniel LaFarge
Kirkpatrick Middle School Barbara Stewart
Leonard Middle School Maria Cruz
McLean 6th Grade School Tracy Rogers
McLean, W.P. Middle School Tracy Smith
Meacham, W.A.  Charis Hustead
Meadowbrook Middle School Bradley Barrett
Middle Level Learning Center Cecilia Zamora
Monnig, William Middle School John Foster
Nolan Catholic High School Bridget Guccione
North Side High School Francisco Manzanarez
North Side High School Kelly Richey
Paschal, R.L. High School Monica Marchi
Paschal, R.L. High School Matthew Stroup
Polytecnical High School Josue Cardenas
Riverside Middle School Brad Demeurisse – 6th grade
Riverside Middle School Jillian West – 7th grade
Riverside Middle School Christina Herubin – 8th grade
Rosemont Middle School  Detra Newton
Saginaw High School Heath Dollar, Kari Summers
South Hills High School Christy Lea
Southwest High School Kevin Watterson
Stripling, W. C. Middle School  Nathan Henderson
Texas Academy of Biomedical Science Jay Kurima
Texas Academy of Biomedical Science Erin Blythe
Trinity Valley School Dr. Michael Roemer
Wedgwood 6th     Kay Blackston
Wedgwood Middle School  Melissa Conyers
Western Hills High School Gladys Scott
World Languages Institute Guadalupe Barreto
Young Men’s Leadership Academy Gina Powell
Young Women’s Leadership Academy  Bethanie Skipper

2013-09-19 04:46

Educators Selected as International Academic Ambassador Chairs

Sister Cities Partners with Area Schools on Global Fluency Fort Worth Sister Cities welcomed and recognized the newly appointed International Academic Ambassador Chairs recently at a reception held in the Botanic Gardens. These educators are selected by the principals in their schools to serve in this capacity for one academic year. Since 1999, Sister Cities International has established a successful network of school partnerships with public and private middle and high schools with the specific goal of creating and promoting awareness of international educational opportunities for Fort Worth youth and educators. These Ambassador Chairs continue to be an invaluable component of Sister Cities’ international programs to provide youth with relevant cultural experiences preparing them to be successful in today’s global society and workplace.  And, for the teachers, these programs serve as a resource for global educational enrichment.   As we begin the new school year, Fort Worth Sister Cities has planned numerous international initiatives in which local youth and teachers are invited to participate. Congratulations to the 2013/14 Class:

All Saints Episcopal School Angela Kornman
Applied Learning Academy Kimberley Hanna
Arlington Heights High School Sefakor Amaa
Boswell High School Heath Dollar
Carter-Riverside, Amon High School Robert Landreaux 
Como Montessori Middle School Julie Mullender
Chisholm Trail High School Janet C. Reynolds
Daggett Montessori Middle School Lori Zarate
Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School Liliana Hinojosa
Dunbar High School Shatiqueka Carson
Elder, J.P. Matti Kruse
Fort Worth Academy Chandra Hough
Fort Worth Country Day School (MS) Tara Forrest 
Fort Worth Country Day School Dr. James Aldridge
Hill School of Fort Worth Roxann Breyer
International Newcomer Academy (HS/MS) Kelly McDaniel LaFarge
Kirkpatrick Middle School Barbara Stewart
Leonard Middle School Maria Cruz
McLean 6th Grade School Tracy Rogers
McLean, W.P. Middle School Tracy Smith
Meacham, W.A.  Charis Hustead
Meadowbrook Middle School Bradley Barrett
Middle Level Learning Center Cecilia Zamora
Monnig, William Middle School John Foster
Nolan Catholic High School Bridget Guccione
North Side High School Francisco Manzanarez
North Side High School Kelly Richey
Paschal, R.L. High School Monica Marchi
Paschal, R.L. High School Matthew Stroup
Polytecnical High School Josue Cardenas
Riverside Middle School Brad Demeurisse – 6th grade
Riverside Middle School Jillian West – 7th grade
Riverside Middle School Christina Herubin – 8th grade
Rosemont Middle School  Detra Newton
Saginaw High School Heath Dollar, Kari Summers
South Hills High School Christy Lea
Southwest High School Kevin Watterson
Stripling, W. C. Middle School  Nathan Henderson
Texas Academy of Biomedical Science Jay Kurima
Texas Academy of Biomedical Science Erin Blythe
Trinity Valley School Dr. Michael Roemer
Wedgwood 6th     Kay Blackston
Wedgwood Middle School  Melissa Conyers
Western Hills High School Gladys Scott
World Languages Institute Guadalupe Barreto
Young Men’s Leadership Academy Gina Powell
Young Women’s Leadership Academy  Bethanie Skipper

ITALIAN CULINARY STUDENTS VISIT FORT WORTH

Students from the Instituto de Motti at Fort Worth Culinary School Eight culinary students and teachers from the Instituto de Motti, a culinary school in Fort Worth’s sister city of Reggio Emilia, Italy, arrived yesterday for a two-week exchange. The students will be hosted by the Fort Worth Culinary Institute while visiting. This is the fourth inbound exchange with the Motti Institute. First day in Texas for the students from Reggio Emilia and they have already learned to make chicken fried steak at Trimble tech high school. ~Culinary School of Fort Worth The Italian students will have hands on experience and learn about Texas cuisine at internships that have been arranged for them by Heather Kurima, Director of the Fort Worth Culinary School. They will intern at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel, The Ashton Hotel and Reata Restaurant. “This is a unique experience for students from both schools to learn from each other while sharing their culture.  Plus we all get to enjoy some wonderful Italian cuisine,” said Kurima. In partnership with FWISD’s Gold Seal Program, the students will also visit area high schools.  Visits are planned to Trimble Technical High School where they will be introduced to some Texas cuisine including Chicken Fried Steak and South Hills High School for some Southwestern Chili.  In turn the Italian students will  demonstrate  how to make homemade pasta from scratch. The students are also preparing a special meal for invited guests to sample some of Italy’s delicacies.  The menu will include the famous Parmiggiano Reggiano cheese and Balsamic vinegar followed by a traditional Italian meal of anti pasta, primi and secundi dish and dolce all prepared by the students.  This event has been sold out for weeks. Reggio Emilia was Fort Worth’s first sister city partner signing an official agreement in 1985.  Since that time exchanges have occurred in sports, education, economic relations and culture.

Upcoming Youth Exchanges

2013-09-03 10:30

ITALIAN CULINARY STUDENTS VISIT FORT WORTH

Students from the Instituto de Motti at Fort Worth Culinary School Eight culinary students and teachers from the Instituto de Motti, a culinary school in Fort Worth’s sister city of Reggio Emilia, Italy, arrived yesterday for a two-week exchange. The students will be hosted by the Fort Worth Culinary Institute while visiting. This is the fourth inbound exchange with the Motti Institute. First day in Texas for the students from Reggio Emilia and they have already learned to make chicken fried steak at Trimble tech high school. ~Culinary School of Fort Worth The Italian students will have hands on experience and learn about Texas cuisine at internships that have been arranged for them by Heather Kurima, Director of the Fort Worth Culinary School. They will intern at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel, The Ashton Hotel and Reata Restaurant. “This is a unique experience for students from both schools to learn from each other while sharing their culture.  Plus we all get to enjoy some wonderful Italian cuisine,” said Kurima. In partnership with FWISD’s Gold Seal Program, the students will also visit area high schools.  Visits are planned to Trimble Technical High School where they will be introduced to some Texas cuisine including Chicken Fried Steak and South Hills High School for some Southwestern Chili.  In turn the Italian students will  demonstrate  how to make homemade pasta from scratch. The students are also preparing a special meal for invited guests to sample some of Italy’s delicacies.  The menu will include the famous Parmiggiano Reggiano cheese and Balsamic vinegar followed by a traditional Italian meal of anti pasta, primi and secundi dish and dolce all prepared by the students.  This event has been sold out for weeks. Reggio Emilia was Fort Worth’s first sister city partner signing an official agreement in 1985.  Since that time exchanges have occurred in sports, education, economic relations and culture.

Upcoming Youth Exchanges