Islamic Sister Cities Dakar Washington Dc

BUILDING MEANINGFUL PARTNERSHIPS AROUND THE WORLD A Dynamic Global Network Promoting Cultural Understanding Islamic Partnership Initiative Program Models Report Compiled by Jennifer Oliver October 2007 Sister Cities International mission is to promote peace through mutual respect, understanding, & cooperation — one individual, one community at a time. |1

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 ARTS AND CULTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 ACCESSIBILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 EDUCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 ENVIRONMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 HEALTH CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 MUNICIPAL COOPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 SPORTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53 TECHNOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 TRILATERAL PARTNERSHIPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 WOMEN’S ISSUES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 YOUTH PROGRAMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 *Programs may be cross-referenced under several applicable categories

This Islamic Partnership Initiative program report was INTRODUCTION developed as a resource for members and the general public as a snapshot of existing and developing sister city relationships in the Muslim world. The 89 program Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diploma- models in this report were gathered from existing part- cy network that creates and strengthens partnerships nership websites, 2007 survey responses, Sister Cities between U.S. and international communities. We strive International archives and additional follow-up conversa- to build global cooperation at the municipal level, pro- tions. By January 1, 2008, this will be information mote cultural understanding and stimulate economic searchable on the ‘Tell Your Sister City Story’ section of development. the Sister Cities International website (http://www.sister- cities.org/icrc/icrc-search/innovation). Visitors will be Sister Cities International is a leader of local community able to search by program type and by country and development and volunteer action. We motivate and region. empower private citizens, municipal officials and business leaders to conduct long-term sister city programs This report is made possible in part by funding from the that involve two-way communication and should mutual- U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and ly benefit partnering communities. Cultural Affairs. In order to secure a more peaceful future, Sister Cities Any corrections, additional descriptions, or new pro- International, through its Islamic Partnership Initiative, gram models should be sent to: seeks to provide U.S. communities and communities in the Muslim world opportunities for positive direct Jennifer Oliver engagement and foster better understanding. Sister Islamic Partnership Initiative Program Manager Cities International is in a unique position to play a vital Sister Cities International role in bridging the gap between the Muslim world and 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 850 the West through the "citizen diplomacy" movement. Washington, DC 20004 The goal of the Islamic Partnership Initiative is to: Email: joliver@sister-cities.org Telephone: 202.347.8630 ext. 8638 Strengthen the existing Sister Cities partnerships between the U.S. and Muslim world and form new partnerships. Demonstrate through these Sisters Cities partnerships that mutual respect, understanding and cooperation can be built and sustained between the United States and the Muslim world. Tell the remarkable stories of these partnerships and programs to help inform and educate the American public about the positive impact of citizen diplomacy. 2| |3

ARTS AND CULTURE Type of program: Youth /Arts and Culture U.S. Community: Baltimore, Maryland International Community: Luxor & Alexandria, Egypt Program Description: The Baltimore-Luxor-Alexandria Sister Cities Committee partnered with an art museum in Baltimore to create a youth art contest. Local youth were invited to submit artwork portraying Egypt in any form to the art museum for display and competition. The project encourages youth to learn about Egypt and think about what the country means to them. Website: http://www.baltimoreegypt.org/ Type of program: Arts and Culture U.S. Community: Baltimore, Maryland International Community: Luxor & Alexandria, Egypt Program Description: The Baltimore-Luxor-Alexandria Sister Cities Committee formed a Baltimore Friends of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Association. The Friends Association works to restore the ancient Bibliotecha Alexandrina to a world-class learning institution. The Friends Association holds fundraisers and events to raise money for the library. Book drives are held to send books to Alexandria. Staff of the Bibliotheca Alexandria can participate in internships in Baltimore libraries, and Baltimore professionals are invited to volunteer time at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. The Friends Association also holds lectures and seminars about the library’s long and distinguished history. Website: http://www.baltimoreegypt.org/Library.htm |5

Type of program: Arts and Culture/Environmental Type of program: Arts and Culture/Municipal Cooperation U.S. Community: Wilmington, Delaware International Community: Osogbo, Nigeria U.S. Community: New York, New York International Community: Cairo, Egypt and other New Program Description: York global partners Sister Cities of Wilmington, Inc. maintains five flower gardens in Wilmington State Park, Delaware. These unique Program Description: gardens celebrate the friendship and association of In 2005, the Sister City Program of the City of New York, Wilmington and its 5 sister cities of Kalmar, Sweden; Inc. hosted a one-and-a-half day Summit titled “Strategies Watford, England; Fulda, Germany; Osogobo, Nigeria and for Public Art”. In collaboration with the New York City Olevano sul Tusciano, Italy. Each of the 5 gardens is ded- Department of Cultural Affairs and with assistance provid- icated to one of the sister cities, and the flower display, ed by the Public Art Fund, the Summit was the first inter- which is replanted each spring, represents the colors of national conference to focus on the municipal challenges the respective sister cities’ national flags. of public art. Nine of New York’s ten Sister Cities: Beijing, Budapest, Cairo, Jerusalem, Johannesburg, London, Website: http://www.sistercitieswilmington.org/ Madrid, Rome, and Tokyo sent delegations that included public officials responsible for public art, leaders in the public art field from the private sector and from local cul- Type of program: Arts and Culture tural institutions, and also artists with public art experience. The Summit explored the approaches and innova- U.S. Community: Houston, Texas tions some cities have developed to meet these chal- International Community: Baku, Azerbaijan; Abu Dhabi, lenges, and noted the range of issues facing New York United Arab Emirates (and other Houston sister cities) City and the Sister cities. For all participants, the Summit provided an opportunity to share best practices and Program Description: strategies for success. The Sister Cities World’s Fare at the Houston International Festival introduces Houstonians to the cultures of Website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/unccp/scp/html/ Houston’s seventeen sister cities. The wine tent provides summit/art_summit.shtml an opportunity to enjoy snacks and beverages while watching the performances on the Sister Cities of Houston stage. Past performances have included professional Type of program: Arts and Culture artists from Baku, Azerbaijan and a country western singer from Perth, Australia. Performances of local artists per- U.S. Community: Seattle, Washington form highlight the cultures of other sister cities, includ- International Community: Surabaya, Indonesia ing (but not limited to): Abu Dhabi, Shenzhen, Stavanger, and Tampico. Program Description: The Seattle-Surabaya Sister City committee organized an Website: http://www.sistercitiesofhouston.org/wp/ Indonesian Street Fair in the City of Seattle. Approximately ?page_id=113 1,500 people attended throughout the day to enjoy Indonesian cultural exhibits on dancing, traditional instru- 6| |7

ments, business opportunities, art activities for children, Short Film category. The Tucson cinematographers, David and foods. Members from both the Christian and Muslim and Cynthia Wing, traveled to Almaty and enjoyed 11 days communities worked together to make this program a of Kazakhstani hospitality, taught master classes in film success and to help educate the local Seattle citizenry. technology and networked with film makers from Egypt, England, France, Russia, Turkey and others, 26 in all. The Website: http://www.cityofseattle.net/oir/Surabaya.htm Tucson-Almaty Sister City Committee continues to prac- tice Citizen Diplomacy through education, culture and economic development. Type of program: Arts and Culture Website: http://www.tucson-almaty.info/ U.S. Community: Tucson, Arizona International Community: Almaty, Kazakhstan Type of program: Arts and Culture Program Description: The Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities invited the Kazakh U.S. Community: Los Angeles, California national folk ensemble to Tucson in January, 2005 to par- International Community: Beirut, Lebanon ticipate in the Tucson Family Arts Festival. In 2008, exchanges of boys’ choirs will occur between Tucson and Program Description: Almaty. A local college sponsored the “Ambassadors of Harmony” event, featuring Lebanese and American classical musi- Website: http://www.tucson-almaty.info/ cians. Website: http://www.labeirut.org/files/NDUECCConcert Type of program: Arts and Culture (Film)/Economic Flyer.pdf Development U.S. Community: Tucson, Arizona Type of program: Arts and Culture/Education International Community: Almaty, Kazakhstan U.S. Community: Tucson, Arizona Program Description: International Community: Almaty, Kazakhstan Fifteen years of progressively active sister city programming showed itself in April of 2005 when the Mayor of Program Description: Almaty, Kazakhstan wrote a letter to the Mayor of Tucson Over the years, the many ethnically Kazakh visitors that and invited him to submit entries into a new International have come to Tucson through programs initiated by the Film Festival which was based on Almaty’s sister city rela- Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities Committee have always tionships around the world. The Tucson-Almaty Sister expressed deep interest in our Native American communi- Cities Committee was given the task of investigating and, ties in Arizona. An understanding of the concept of shared if deemed beneficial and feasible, to seek entries from ancestry of the tribes from Mongolia and our Native local cinematographers. A call to the community went out American Tribes was developed and the need to pursue the and two entries were received and submitted to be juried matching of our cultures became a priority project aim of in Almaty. One of the two was chosen to compete in the this committee. In 2004, three ethnically Kazakh jewelry 8| |9

artisans were brought to Tucson in an economic develop- Type of program: Arts and Culture ment outreach program. They returned again in January of 2005, to participate in the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. U.S. Community: Seattle, Washington At that time, the Kazakh Artisans invited our committee to International Community: Tashkent, Uzbekistan participate in an exhibition in Almaty in November of 2005. Furthermore, they requested that we specifically select Program Description: Native American artisans to go. They were very interested The Seattle-Tashkent Association sponsors the annual in the Navajo jewelry tradition that they discovered here. A Novruz or first day of spring celebration. The 2007 celebra- call for participants was made, and Dennison and Theda tion included traditional foods, speeches, dancing, and Tsosie left Tucson for Almaty. Dennison is a Navajo music. Uzbek dancing was performed by visiting Uzbek Silversmith as well as a medicine man/healer and had Fulbright program participant, Sitora Khatomova. Central strong feelings about his ancestry. During their time in Asian dancing was by Emiko. A wonderful Uzbek puppet Almaty, they conducted workshops, master classes and show was provided by Sanobar Khotamova, visiting Uzbek lectures on the Navajo traditions. Dennison was also Fulbright participant at the University of Washington, and involved with a Kazakh Shaman in presenting the spiritual her sister, dancer Sitora Khatomova. blessings given at the opening of the Exhibition. Website: http://www.seattle-tashkent.org/ Website: http://www.tucson-almaty.info/ Type of program: Youth/Arts and Culture/Education Type of program: Arts and Culture U.S. Community: Tucson, Arizona U.S. Community: Seattle, Washington International Community: Almaty, Kazakhstan International Community: Tashkent, Uzbekistan Program Description: Program Description: American students in Tucson created short videos docu- The Seattle-Tashkent Peace Park Project was an idea to cre- menting their lives and activities to send to their sister ate a park site, one and a half acres in size, to commemo- school in Almaty. The Almaty students responded by cre- rate peace. Thousands of people and corporations gave ating their own videos about life in Kazakhstan. The Sister financial and in-kind donations for the park. Seattle citi- City Committee has also organized several high school zens, ranging from children to adults, designed 10,000 exchanges and sponsored students from Kazakhstan to tiles celebrating peace that were laid in the park. attend universities in Arizona. Volunteers from all over the United States traveled to Uzbekistan to assist in building the park alongside Uzbek Website: http://www.tucson-almaty.info/ volunteers. A Seattle sculptor created a special sculpture depicting totem poles of the Pacific Northwest for the park. The building of this park gained local, national and international attention. Website: http://www.seattle-tashkent.org/ 10 | | 11

Type of program: Arts and Culture Type of program: Arts and Culture (Sister Libraries)/ Education/Municipal Cooperation U.S. Community: Kansas City, Missouri International Community: Freetown, Sierra Leone U.S. Community: Various International Community: Various Program Description: The Sister City Association of Kansas City-Freetown host- Program Description: ed a Sierra Leone Culture Day. Highlights of the event A Sister Libraries program offers a great opportunity for included ‘A short history of Sierra Leone’ by Dr. Sylvia sister cities to exchange information and materials, collab- Ojukutu Macauley, traditional Sierra Leonean food sam- orate for special events, educate the community about pling, a display of Sierra Leonean culture, costumes, arti- another culture, raise the library’s international visibility, facts and more. and offer opportunities for library staff to learn more about the international library profession. The American Website: http://www.kcsistercities.org/articles/ Library Association suggests many activities that can be FreetownFlyer906.pdf part of a Sister Libraries program: Promote awareness of the library and its international “reach.” Type of program: Arts and Culture (American Corners)/ Exchange information between libraries. Education Improve access to published information in both countries. U.S. Community: Various Raise awareness of issues and needs facing libraries International Community: Various in various countries. Offer opportunities to learn more about a region or Program Description: country represented by an immigrant group in your American corners provide access to information about the community. United States through book and magazine collections, Share techniques and technologies to help solve videos and DVDs, CDs, and local programming. Several problems. U.S. sister city committees have sent materials to their sis- Broaden both your own and your staff’s view of the ter city for the establishment of American Corners. The sis- library profession. ter cities work together to identify a host location for the Increase staff and community knowledge of other American Corner; the corner may be in a library, universi- cultures. ty, school or cultural center. U.S. communities can Increase diversity of interaction between profession- fundraise and collect donations to send materials for the als. American Corner. The U.S. embassy in-country may be able Share strengths through exchange of resources and to provide additional support or resources for the expertise. American Corner. Address weaknesses by providing resources, training and exposure. Website: http://wikis.ala.org/sisterlibraries/index.php/ How_to_find_a_Sister_Library Website: http://wikis.ala.org/sisterlibraries/index.php/ How_to_find_a_Sister_Library 12 | | 13

Type of program: Arts and Culture Type of program: Youth/Education/Arts and Culture U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois International Community: Amman, Jordan International Community: Casablanca, Morocco Program Description: Program Description: Chicago Sister Cities co-hosted “Fashions of Arabia” in March 7th through the 13th was designated Chicago Week in which more than 60 traditional costumes representing 22 Casablanca, and Monday morning began with a conference com- Middle Eastern countries were modeled by local high paring the educational systems of Morocco, Chicago and the school and college students from the greater Chicagoland United States. The conference was attended by Casablancans Arab-American community. The Jordanian costumes were from various branches of Moroccan educational institutions, even modeled by Jordanian-American students. members of the education subcommittee of the Casablanca Committee, and many visiting delegates from Chicago. The Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/explore.php? President of Hassan II University opened the conference and wel- pagename=Amman%20-%20Exchanges&section=Amman comed all participants. Presentations by the Vice President of Hassan II and the Dean of the Faculty of Law focused on the organization of the Moroccan educational system and on the Type of program: Arts and Culture/Education/Municipal reform efforts currently underway at all levels of that system. The Cooperation Vice President of Al Akhawayne University, a private school, explained their system of private higher education. U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois International Community: Amman, Jordan The afternoon brought delegates to the Superior Institute of Commerce and Enterprise Administration (ISCAE) for a tour of Program Description: its beautiful facility and a visit with the Director, students and The Amman Cultural Committee has been working close- faculty. Delegates were very impressed with the high level of ly with the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Amman preparation these students are receiving - and achieving – with Children’s Museum to create a mutually beneficial partner- the aim of increasing Morocco’s participation in the internation- ship with exchange of ideas and expertise. With full sup- al business community. port from the Chicago Children’s Museum and Her Majesty Queen Rania, staff from the Chicago museum will, Additional visits were made during the week to a number of throughout the coming year, be supporting the staff in other educational institutions, such as Al Jisr Association, an Amman by providing educational/staff training, program organization that has been instrumental throughout Morocco and exhibit development, and even assist in the creation in creating partnerships between public schools and private of a mobile museum to help reach underprivileged chil- organizations. Al Jisr has focused particularly in creating these dren throughout Jordan. relationships with pre-schools and primary schools in order to bring more resources to bear in the early years of children’s Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/explore.php? education and to ensure the attainment of basic literacy skills pagename=Amman%20-%20Exchanges&section=Amman at those levels. Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/news.php? newsid=103 14 | | 15

ACCESSIBILITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Type of program: Youth/Arts and Culture/Education Type of program: Humanitarian (Medical)/Disabilities/ Health Care U.S. Community: Houston, Texas International Community: Abu Dhabi, United Arab U.S. Community: Pleasant Hill, California Emirates International Community: Merzifon, Turkey Program Description: Program Description: The Houston Sister Cities Committee reached out to ele- The project was a three-way partnership. The Pleasant Hill mentary schools by having them participate in the Rotary Club (representing Rotary International), Friends of Houston International Festival in April. Abu Dhabi was rep- Merzifon (representing Sister Cities International), and the resented by third graders from Hobby Elementary, leading Wheelchair Foundation joined forces to raise money for the Children’s Parade that opened the festival. The two 280 wheelchairs for the disabled and handicapped people boys and two girls who carried the Abu Dhabi banner were in the city of Merzifon. appropriately dressed in authentic outfits from the UAE. Prior to the event, two board members visited the school A sturdy and practical wheelchair, especially manufactured to present a talk-and-slide show and introduce Abu Dhabi for the Wheelchair Foundation, costs $150. By raising to the marchers. $21,000 locally, Pleasant Hill Rotary and Friends of Merzifon qualified for matching funds from the Wheelchair Website: http://www.sistercitiesofhouston.org/ Foundation. Scott’s Seafood Grill and Bar in Walnut Creek abudhabi.htm hosted a luncheon for $75 per person, with all proceeds being donated to this project — a huge jump-start for the fundraising effort. The Wheelchair Foundation shipped a container of 280 wheelchairs to Istanbul from where it was transported over- land by truck to Merzifon. Thanks to the contacts of Rotary International and Sister Cities International, no dock fees, customs duties, storage charges, or import taxes were assessed on the shipment. A major ceremony was held to initiate the distribution. Locally, volunteers from the Disabled and Handicapped Society of Merzifon organized the distribution. During the distribution ceremony, a twelve-year-old handicapped boy read a poem he wrote about being handicapped. Website: http://www.friendsofmerzifon.org/wheelchair_ delivery.html 16 | | 17

Type of program: Arts and Culture (Film)/Economic Electric Power, Renewable Resources, Tourism, Development Information Technology, and AgriBusiness. Partners included: City of St. Louis, Indonesian Consulate General, U.S. Community: Tucson, Arizona St. Louis Center for International Relations, St. Louis International Community: Almaty, Kazakhstan County and the World Trade Center-Saint Louis. Program Description: Website: http://www.slcir.org/bogor_indonesia/ Fifteen years of progressively active sister city programming showed itself in April 2005 when the Mayor of Almaty, Kazakhstan wrote a letter to the Mayor of Tucson Type of program: Economic Development (Networking) and invited him to submit entries into a new International Film Festival which was based on Almaty’s sister city rela- U.S. Community: Houston, Texas tionships around the world. The Tucson-Almaty Sister International Community: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Cities Committee was given the task of investigating and, Emirates if deemed beneficial and feasible, to seek entries from local cinematographers. A call to the community went out Program Description: and two entries were received and submitted to be juried For the past five years, the Abu Dhabi Sister City organiza- in Almaty. One of the two was chosen to compete in the tion has hosted/co-hosted a breakfast during Houston’s Short Film category. The Tucson cinematographers, David annual Offshore Technology Conference. The guest list and Cynthia Wing, traveled to Almaty and were treated to grows larger each year as word of the committee’s 11 days of Kazakhstani hospitality, taught master classes “Southern hospitality” has spread. More than 100 dele- in film technology and rubbed elbows with film makers gates from Abu Dhabi and other Middle Eastern countries from Egypt, England, France, Russia, Turkey and others, awoke early to both enjoy good food and to participate in 26 in all. The Tucson-Almaty Sister City Committee prac- this fabulous opportunity to network. tices Citizen Diplomacy through education, culture and economic development. Website: http://www.sistercitiesofhouston.org/ abudhabi.htm Website: http://www.tucson-almaty.info/ Type of program: Education/Technology Type of program: Economic Development (Trade) U.S. Community: Tucson, Arizona U.S. Community: St. Louis, Missouri International Community: Sulaimaniah, Iraq International Community: Bogor, Indonesia Program Description: Program Description: The first exchange brought two professors focused on The St. Louis-Bogor Sister Cities Committee organized an crop sciences from the University of Sulaimaniah to the Indonesian Business Seminar and Market Meeting at the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life World Trade Center in St. Louis. Attendees learned about Sciences (CALS) to participate in a short course focused on the current business climate in Indonesia and participated crop production, engineering, marketing, pest manage- in market meetings to examine the following sectors: ment, and environmental control. The two universities 18 | | 19

signed and finalized a Memorandum of Understanding, integrates traditional skills and economies with modern committing them to continued student and faculty business practices, the program assists local artisans in the exchanges. development of business plans and cooperative enterprises while working to expand international markets for fair-trade Website: http://www.sister-cities.org/Humanitarian indigenous arts. With a focus on women’s participation and Assistance/Iraqiinitiative economic development, the project provides seed grants and training for microenterprise opportunities such as fish ponds, rice banks, rattan farms, organic community gar- Type of program: Youth/Arts and Culture/Education dens and livestock rearing. The project also supports cross- cultural Reality Tour exchanges for international travelers. U.S. Community: Houston, Texas International Community: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Website: http://borneoproject.org/ Emirates Program Description: Type of program: Economic Development The Houston Sister Cities Committee reached out to elementary schools by having them participate in the U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois Houston International Festival in April. Abu Dhabi was rep- International Community: Amman, Jordan resented by third graders from Hobby Elementary, leading the Children’s Parade that opened the festival. The two Program Description: boys and two girls who carried the Abu Dhabi banner were On October 15,, 2007, eight representatives from appropriately dressed in authentic outfits from the UAE. Chicago, Illinois traveled to Amman, Jordan for a five-day Prior to the event, two board members visited the school visit. The visit was organized by the American Chamber of to present a talk-and-slide show and introduce Abu Dhabi Commerce in Jordan and the Chicago Sister Cities to the marchers. Program. The delegates included representatives from the business, education, IT, and industrial sectors. The main Website: http://www.sistercitiesofhouston.org/ objective of the trip was to encourage business ventures abudhabi.htm between Illinois based and Jordanian investors. Eighty Jordanian professionals attended the conference. The conference discussed recent economic growth between the Type of program: Economic Development U.S. and Jordan. It also addressed educational partnerships and the American delegates visited some of Jordan’s U.S. Community: Berkeley, California top-learning institutions including: University of Jordan, International Community: Uma Bawang, Malaysia* Princess Sumaya University for Science and Technology * This community is a non-Muslim community within a and the Higher Council of Science and Technology. Muslim majority country. Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/explore.php? Program Description: pagename=Amman&section=Amman This program aims to reduce poverty by helping communities achieve economic self-reliance through the development of income-generating models. In an approach that 20 | | 21

Amman by providing educational/staff training, program EDUCATION and exhibit development, and even assist in the creation of a mobile museum to help reach underprivileged children throughout Jordan. This will not only allow for the Type of program: Education/Trilateral Partnership development of a great partnership, but will also provide (Palestinian-Israeli-U.S. Sister Cities) the opportunity for both sides to experience the different cultures of the wonderful cities of Chicago and Amman. U.S. Community: Burlington, Vermont International Community: Bethlehem, Palestinian Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/explore.php? Authority, Arad, Israel pagename=Amman%20-%20Exchanges&section=Amman Program Description: The Burlington-Bethlehem-Arad committee hosted Type of program: Arts and Culture (Sister Libraries)/ “Jerusalem Women Speak: Three Women, Three Faiths, Education/Municipal Cooperation One Shared Vision” in Burlington for a speaking engagement. This program, sponsored by Partners for Peace, U.S. Community: Various brings together three women from the Jerusalem area to International Community: Various speak about their experiences and vision for peace as women of different faiths and national groups. The Program Description: women tour the country. Communities who are interested A Sister Libraries program offers a great opportunity for in inviting the “Jerusalem Women Speak” program to visit sister cities to exchange information and materials, collab- their community should contact Partners for Peace. orate for special events, educate the community about another culture, raise the library’s international visibility, Website: http://www.partnersforpeace.org/ and offer opportunities for library staff to learn more jerusalem_more .shtml about the international library profession. The American Library Association suggests many activities that can be part of a Sister Libraries program: Type of program: Arts and Culture/Education/Municipal Promote awareness of the library and its interna- Cooperation tional “reach.” Exchange information between libraries. U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois Improve access to published information in both International Community: Amman, Jordan countries. Raise awareness of issues and needs facing libraries Program Description: in various countries. The Amman Cultural Committee has been working close- Offer opportunities to learn more about a region or ly with the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Amman country represented by an immigrant group in your Children’s Museum to create a mutually beneficial partner- community. ship with exchange of ideas and expertise. With full sup- Share techniques and technologies to help solve problems. port from the Chicago Children’s Museum and Her Broaden both your own and your staff’s view of the Majesty Queen Rania, staff from the Chicago museum will, library profession. throughout the coming year, be supporting the staff in Increase staff and community knowledge of other cultures. 22 | | 23

Increase diversity of interaction between professionals. Type of program: Youth/Education Share strengths through exchange of resources and expertise. U.S. Community: Washington, DC Address weaknesses by providing resources, train- International Community: Dakar, Senegal ing and exposure. Program Description: Website: http://wikis.ala.org/sisterlibraries/index.php/ The most successful activity of this partnership has been How_to_find_a_Sister_Library the PADEC activity. The PADEC activity is an English Club in Dakar, Senegal that DC-Dakar Sister Cities has supported for the past 15 years. It started with 20 children and Type of program: Youth/Education today there are over 600 in the program. The DC committee sends financial support, supplies, computers and U.S. Community: San Diego, California books to the English club. The committee also helped to International Community: Jalalabad, Afghanistan establish a computer center at the English club. Whenever DC delegations visit Dakar, they bring supplies for the Program Description: club. The DC committee has been able to fundraise for the San Diego-Jalalabad Sister Cities partners with the Rotary English club by hosting home tours and dinners at the Club to implement programs and activities in Afghanistan. Embassy of Senegal. The committee also fundraises by The San Diego-Jalalabad Sister Cities makes a significant dif- holding an African Ambassadors lunch for female ambas- ference in Jalalabad education through proactive outreach, sadors from Africa. Local citizens can attend the lunch and through the building and equipping of a K-12 school, and meet with the female ambassadors. through initiatives with Nangarhar University. After consulting with Afghani government officials and citizens, several Website: http://www.usasc.org/Search/DC-Dakar.html Rotarians began moving forward with the establishment of a Jalalabad school. Rotarian and architect Rick Clark designed plans for elementary, middle, and high school phases; all Type of program: Arts and Culture (American Corners)/ three have been constructed. The school’s 6,000 English dic- Education tionaries have been distributed to faculty and students. Later, the Afghan school partnered with a San Diego school U.S. Community: Various for a sister schools relationship. The San Diego students International Community: Various raised funds for school supplies for their sister school, and the Jalalabad students sent letters in reply. Program Description: American corners provide access to information about the The Nangarhar University activities include partnering the United States through book and magazine collections, university with San Diego State University, enhancing videos and DVDs, CDs, and local programming. Several U.S. Nangarhar University’s English as a Second Language pro- sister city committees have sent materials to their sister city gram, and funding a computer lab at the university. for the establishment of American Corners. The sister cities work together to identify a host location for the American Website: http://www.sandiegojalalabadsistercities.org/ Corner; the corner may be in a library, university, school or cultural center. U.S. communities can fundraise and collect donations to send materials for the American Corner. The 24 | | 25

U.S. embassy in-country may be able to provide additional Type of program: Youth/Education support or resources for the American Corner. U.S. Community: Tucson, Arizona Website: http://wikis.ala.org/sisterlibraries/index.php/ International Community: Almaty, Kazakhstan How_to_find_a_Sister_Library Program Description: The University of Arizona (UA) signed an agreement link- Type of program: Arts and Culture/Education ing the University with the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The agreement pro- U.S. Community: Tucson, Arizona motes faculty, student and curriculum exchanges between International Community: Almaty, Kazakhstan the two universities. UA math professor William Faris, a former Fulbright scholar in Russia, is the faculty sponsor Program Description: for the new agreement. A partnership was first suggested Over the years, the many ethnically Kazakh visitors that by an Almaty high school student who was in Tucson as have come to Tucson through programs initiated by the part of an international Sister Cities exchange program. Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities Committee have always That prompted Jerry Gary, chair of the Tucson-Almaty expressed deep interest in our Native American communi- Sister Cities committee, to meet with Kazakhstani univer- ties in Arizona. An understanding of the concept of shared sity administrators to gauge their interest in a possible ancestry of the tribes from Mongolia and our Native relationship. Although Gary got an enthusiastic response, American Tribes was developed and the need to pursue it wasn’t until Daulet Kalanov, from Astana, Kazakhstan, the matching of our cultures became a priority project aim became a UA student that the relationship began to move of this committee. In 2004, three ethnically Kazakh jewel- ahead. Kalanov’s mother, an employee at the Ministry of ry artisans were brought to Tucson in an economic devel- Education in Kazakhstan, heard about the meeting from opment outreach program. They returned again in January her son and encouraged the Al-Farabi officials to submit a of 2005, to participate in the Tucson Gem and Mineral formal request to President Likins. Show. At that time, the Kazakh Artisans invited our committee to participate in an exhibition in Almaty in Website: http://www.tucson-almaty.info/ November of 2005. Furthermore, they requested that we specifically select Native American artisans to go. They were very interested in the Navajo jewelry tradition that Type of program: Youth/Education they discovered here. A call for participants was made, and Dennison and Theda Tsosie left Tucson for Almaty. U.S. Community: Long Beach, California Dennison is a Navajo Silversmith as well as a medicine International Community: Izmir, Turkey man/healer and had equally strong feelings about his ancestry. During their time in Almaty, they conducted Program Description: workshops, master classes and lectures on the Navajo tra- Seven Washington Middle School eighth-graders ditions. Dennison was also involved with a Kazakh embarked on an overseas journey to attend Space Camp Shaman in presenting the spiritual blessings given at the Turkey in the city of Izmir. The trip marks the second year opening of the Exhibition. Washington Middle School students have been awarded scholarships from Global Friendship Through Space Website: http://www.tucson-almaty.info/ Education to attend the one-week Partner School Science 26 | | 27

Program, which aims to expand students’ knowledge of The newly founded Izmir-Long Beach Sister Cities math and science and promote cross-cultural understand- Association leaders have pledged ongoing support for the ing through collaborative research and hands-on activi- Partner School Science Program at Space Camp Turkey. ties. The students were selected to participate based on Izmir has been an official sister city to Long Beach since their academic success and citizenship. December 2005. The program will be developed to become an integral part of the Izmir Long Beach Sister Cities pro- In preparation for their adventure, the children and their grams. “The Izmir-Long Beach Sister Cities Association will teachers used e-mail and videoconferencing to converse continue to support the success of the program by motivat- with students of the same age from Gelisim College in Izmir ing, engaging and empowering private citizens, municipal about space-related technologies, as well as what their lives officials and business leaders from Long Beach and the are like in their home countries. During their week at Space Turkish American community in Southern California,” said Camp Turkey, the students meet the children from Gelisim Dennis Aytekin, president of the Turkish-North American College and from other countries, share their cultures, and Business Alliance. The students, who were accompanied by develop friendships formed through a common interest in science teacher Stone and aide Canela, returned from their space. They learn and discuss common global issues trip in July. regarding space, including sharing of space nations and keeping space clean and safe. They also learn the history of Global Friendship Through Space Education is a California- NASA, build and launch rockets, experience flight simula- based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to pro- tion, and be assigned roles with specific tasks to conduct moting friendship through the experience of hands-on their own space mission. “Washington Middle School is in a space education in a camp environment. By awarding neighborhood of Long Beach that is plagued with violence, scholarships, GFTSE provides young people with an oppor- drugs, gangs and poverty,” says Susan Yamaguchi, business tunity to attend a Space Camp program specifically manager for the school. “This trip fulfills a vision of seeing designed for 12- to 16-year-olds. More information visit Washington students experience international awareness, www.gftse.org. Sister Cities of Long Beach Inc. enjoys exposure to new cultures and peace amongst all people, all eight Sister Cities and one Friendship City relationship while learning about space and science.” with communities around the world, including Izmir, Turkey. It hosts more than 25 international delegations The scholarships awarded by GFTSE covered only the one- per year and the Annual International Sister City Festival, week camp. Yamaguchi, the students, their parents, drawing close to 1,000 attendees. Washington science teacher Mark Stone, and Washington student aide Maria Canela conducted fundraising activities Website: http://portfoliolab.org/PORTAL/Desktop throughout the year to earn the needed $23,000 for air- Modules/ShowArticle.aspx?pId=35&TabId=615&mId=252 fare and other expenses. One of the most profitable 4&ItemId=1716 fundraisers was a dinner and silent auction. More than 150 local business and individuals donated items for the auction. Generous contributions were also made by founders of GFTSE and Space Camp Turkey Kaya and Mary Tuncer, Washington math teacher Mario Guillen, Halliburton, the Los Angeles Turkish American Association, the Michael Levy Galleries, and the Los Angeles Super Shuttle. 28 | | 29

Type of program: Youth/Education programs and making sure the partnerships are long-lasting. U.S. Community: Fort Worth, Texas International Community: Bandung, Indonesia Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/explore.php? pagename=Amman%20-%20Exchanges&section=Amman Program Description: Fort Worth Sister Cities International received a donation of books from the Fort Worth City Library. Fort Worth Sister Type of program: Youth/Education/Arts and Culture Cities plan was to donate pre-selected books to our Sister City in Bandung, Indonesia. The books were provided to the U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois City Government of Bandung for distribution to libraries or International Community: Casablanca, Morocco schools to promote English language training for young readers and students. Program Description: March 7th through the 13th was designated Chicago Week Website: http://fwsistercities.org/about/sistercity/ in Casablanca, and Monday morning began with a confer- bandung.htm ence comparing the educational systems of Morocco, Chicago and the United States. The conference was attended by Casablancans from various branches of Moroccan Type of program: Youth/Education educational institutions, members of the education subcommittee of the Casablanca Committee, and many visit- U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois ing delegates from Chicago. The President of Hassan II International Community: Amman, Jordan University opened the conference and welcomed all participants. Presentations by the Vice President of Hassan II and Program Description: the Dean of the Faculty of Law focused on the organization The Chicago Sister Schools program started in 1999 as a of the Moroccan educational system and on the reform partnership between the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and efforts currently underway at all levels of that system. The Chicago Sister Cities. All schools in the district are eligible Vice President of Al Akhawayne University, a private school, to take part in the program, including non-CPS schools in explained their system of private higher education. Chicago. While most Sister Schools relationships in Chicago deal with language, they are currently hoping to expand to The afternoon brought delegates to the Superior Institute include additional academic areas like science, arts and the- of Commerce and Enterprise Administration (ISCAE) for a atre. The education committee is working to develop ties tour of its beautiful facility and a visit with the Director, between schools in both cities, including encouraging students and faculty. Delegates were very impressed with Arabic language programs in Chicago, through the Sister the high level of preparation these students are receiving Schools program. The Amman Committee has established - and achieving – with the aim of increasing Morocco’s par- Sister School relationships between Bowen Environmental ticipation in the international business community. Studies Team (Best) High School, Thomas Kelly High School and Ferdinand Peck Elementary School in Chicago and Ein Additional visits were made during the week to a number of Jaloot Comprehensive School for Girls, Ahliyyah School for other educational institutions, such as Al Jisr Association, Girls and Jamil Shaker Secondary School in Amman, respec- an organization that has been instrumental throughout tively. Chicago Sister Cities is very involved in funding these Morocco in creating partnerships between public schools 30 | | 31

and private organizations. Al Jisr has focused particularly in creating these relationships with pre-schools and primary ENVIRONMENT schools in order to bring more resources to bear in the early years of children’s education and to ensure the attainment Type of program: Arts and Culture/Environmental of basic literacy skills at those levels. U.S. Community: Wilmington, Delaware Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/news.php? International Community: Osogbo, Nigeria newsid=103 Program Description: Sister Cities of Wilmington, Inc. maintains 5 flower gar- Type of program: Education/Health Care dens in Wilmington State Park, Delaware. These unique gardens celebrate the friendship and association of U.S. Community: Scottsbluff/Gering, Nebraska Wilmington and its 5 sister cities of Kalmar, Sweden; International Community: Bamiyan, Afghanistan Watford, England; Fulda, Germany; Osogobo, Nigeria and Olevano sul Tusciano, Italy. Each of the 5 gardens is ded- Program Description: icated to one of the sister cities, and the flower display, Western Nebraska Community College (in Scottsbluff) which is replanted each spring, represents the colors of offered scholarships for Practical Nursing to two women the respective sister cities’ national flags. from Bamyan. They spent approximately two years here and received AA degrees in nursing. Website: http://www.sistercitieswilmington.org/ Type of program: Youth/Arts and Culture/Education Type of program: Environment (Conservation and land rights) U.S. Community: Tucson, Arizona International Community: Almaty, Kazakhstan U.S. Community: Berkeley, California International Community: Uma Bawang, Malaysia* Program Description: * This community is a non-Muslim community within a American students in Tucson created short videos docu- Muslim majority country. menting their lives and activities to send to their sister school in Almaty. The Almaty students responded by cre- Program Description: ating their own videos about life in Kazakhstan. The Sister This project supports legal aid and community mapping initia- City Committee has also organized several high school tives that enable communities to halt illegal encroachments on exchanges and sponsored students from Kazakhstan to their native lands and win restitution for past damages. It offers attend universities in Arizona. training in inventory and mapping of ancestral lands, documen- tation of forest use and management, and legal advocacy to Website: http://www.tucson-almaty.info/ gain formal recognition of indigenous community land rights. In recent years, indigenous communities have won a series of unprecedented victories in court due to mapping initiatives. To date, over 100 communities have been mapped and 70 native 32 | | 33

lands rights cases are pending in courts, over half of which still await complete mapping. Current goals are to expand assis- HEALTH CARE tance in resource and boundary mapping to fifteen additional communities, which would facilitate protection of close to Type of program: Humanitarian Assistance/Health Care 250,000 acres. Mapping strategies prioritize both traditional (Medical) knowledge and culturally appropriate use of technology. The project makes use of geographic information from satellite U.S. Community: Arvada, Colorado images to expedite the mapping process. International Community: Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan Website: http://borneoproject.org/ Program Description: A team of Arvada volunteers has been aiding the recovery of our sister-city, Kyzylorda since 1999. An official relationship was later approved by the Arvada City Council. The most recent project has resulted in sending two cargo containers of medical supplies and equipment that were surplus or obsolete in the U.S. The value of these supplies is over half a million dollars but in a unique partnership of Arvada organizations and Project C.U.R.E., the only cost was for shipping. Arvada Sister Cities International partnered with the Arvada Sunrise Rotary Club, the Arvada (evening) Rotary Club, the Arvada Chamber of Commerce, SHARE International, CROSSwalk People Helpers, Spirit of Christ Catholic Community and Faith Bible Chapel as well as a few generous individual donors to raise $40,000 for shipping. Website: http://arvada.org/community/index.php? pid=1265 Type of program: Education/Health Care U.S. Community: Scottsbluff/Gering, Nebraska International Community: Bamiyan, Afghanistan Program Description: Western Nebraska Community College (in Scottsbluff) offered scholarships for Practical Nursing to two women from Bamyan. They spent approximately two years here and received AA degrees in nursing. 34 | | 35

Type of program: Humanitarian Assistance/Health Care research—such as a birth defects registry—to improve (Medical) public health care, especially for children. U.S. Community: Baltimore, Maryland Website: http://www.seattle-tashkent.org/ International Community: Luxor & Alexandria, Egypt Program Description: Type of program: Humanitarian (various)/Health Care Through a Sister City agreement between Baltimore City and Luxor City in Egypt, The Baltimore-Luxor-Alexandria U.S. Community: Tempe, Arizona Sister City Committee (BLASCC) invited Baltimore physi- International Community: Timbuktu, Mali cians, nurses and other health care professionals to train and lecture Egyptian health care workers. The U.S. dele- Program Description: gates were hosted in the historic city of Luxor, famed for The Tempe-Timbuktu committee works on a number of its massive ancient Egyptian temples and the Valley of the humanitarian and development projects in Timbuktu. The Kings and Queens. The Baltimore healthcare professionals committee has fundraised to drill seven drinking wells in stayed for approximately three weeks in Luxor. All the sister city, they have sent a container of 240 wheelchairs expenses except airfare were covered for the visiting pro- and various medical supplies to Timbuktu, and provided fessionals. Luxor International Hospital and neighboring funds for a local Women’s Center. The committee also fund- health care centers provide BLASCC with a list of requested two 3-day workshops on female circumcision, nutrition ed specialties and subspecialties on an ongoing basis. The and AIDS. The committee also has an ongoing program to health subcommittee endeavors to match as many appli- provide goats and sheep to needy families in Timbuktu. cants of various specialties to the requests received from Luxor, and in accordance with the volunteers’ availability. Website: http://www.tempesc.org/ Website: http://www.baltimoreegypt.org/ Type of program: Humanitarian (Medical)/Disabilities/ Health Care Type of program: Humanitarian (Various)/Health Care U.S. Community: Pleasant Hill, California U.S. Community: Seattle, Washington International Community: Merzifon, Turkey International Community: Tashkent, Uzbekistan Program Description: Program Description: The project was a three-way partnership. The Pleasant Hill STSCA has completed a project bringing training on Rotary Club (representing Rotary International), Friends of domestic violence to the city of Tashkent, particularly for Merzifon (representing Sister Cities International), and the health professionals and police officials, and would like to Wheelchair Foundation joined forces to raise money for extend that work. A partner organization, Orphan Care for 280 wheelchairs for the disabled and handicapped people Central Asia, has a long history of working with orphan- in the city of Merzifon. ages in Tashkent. The Committee is currently working with Northwest Medical Teams to enhance medical equip- A sturdy and practical wheelchair, especially manufactured ment for pediatric hospitals, and develop important for the Wheelchair Foundation, costs $150. By raising 36 | | 37

$21,000 locally, Pleasant Hill Rotary and Friends of Merzifon qualified for matching funds from the Wheelchair HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE Foundation. Scott’s Seafood Grill and Bar in Walnut Creek hosted a luncheon for $75 per person, with all proceeds Type of program: Humanitarian Assistance being donated to this project — a huge jump-start for the fundraising effort. US Community: Dallas, Texas International Community: Kirkuk, Iraq The Wheelchair Foundation shipped a container of 280 wheelchairs to Istanbul from where it was transported over- Program Description: land by truck to Merzifon. Thanks to the contacts of Rotary Buckner Orphan Care International presented the mayor- International and Sister Cities International, no dock fees, governor of Kirkuk in northern Iraq with 7,000 pairs of customs duties, storage charges, or import taxes were new children’s shoes and 10,000 pairs of socks at BOCI’s assessed on the shipment. aid warehouse. The shoes were collected through BOCI’s Shoes for Orphan Souls humanitarian aid drive, which has A major ceremony was held to initiate the distribution. donated more than one million pairs of new shoes to Locally, volunteers from the Disabled and Handicapped orphans around the world. Society of Merzifon organized the distribution. During the distribution ceremony, a twelve-year-old handicapped boy Website: http://www.shoesfororphansouls/ read a poem he wrote about being handicapped. Website: http://www.friendsofmerzifon.org/wheelchair_ Type of program: Humanitarian Assistance/Health Care delivery.html (Medical) U.S. Community: Arvada, Colorado International Community: Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan Program Description: A team of Arvada volunteers has been aiding the recovery of our sister-city, Kyzylorda since 1999. An official relationship was later approved by the Arvada City Council. The most recent project has resulted in sending two cargo containers of medical supplies and equipment that were surplus or obsolete in the U.S. The value of these supplies is over half a million dollars but in a unique partnership of Arvada organizations and Project C.U.R.E., the only cost was for shipping. Arvada Sister Cities International partnered with the Arvada Sunrise Rotary Club, the Arvada (evening) Rotary Club, the Arvada Chamber of Commerce, SHARE International, 38 | | 39

CROSSwalk People Helpers, Spirit of Christ Catholic Sister City Committee (BLASCC) invited Baltimore physi- Community and Faith Bible Chapel as well as a few gener- cians, nurses and other health care professionals to train ous individual donors to raise $40,000 for shipping. and lecture Egyptian health care workers. The U.S. delegates were hosted in the historic city of Luxor, famed for Website: http://arvada.org/community/index.php? its massive ancient Egyptian temples and the Valley of the pid=1265 Kings and Queens. The Baltimore healthcare professionals stayed for approximately three weeks in Luxor. All expenses except airfare were covered for the visiting pro- Type of program: Humanitarian Assistance fessionals. Luxor International Hospital and neighboring health care centers provide BLASCC with a list of request- U.S. Community: Denver, Colorado ed specialties and subspecialties on an ongoing basis. The International Community: Baghdad, Iraq health subcommittee endeavors to match as many appli- cants of various specialties to the requests received from Program Description: Luxor, and in accordance with the volunteers’ availability. The Partnership has carried out a range of humanitarian activities including the “In the Boxes for Baghdad” effort. During this Website: http://www.baltimoreegypt.org/ partnership 2,500 school supply kits were sent to Baghdad. The kits were donated by www.EZschoolsupplies.com and collected by local Boy Scouts. Type of program: Humanitarian (Relief) The Lakewood Kiwanis Club shipped over 400 teddy bears U.S. Community: Seattle, Washington and other stuffed animals to children in the Karada and International Community: Surabaya Sadr City districts of Baghdad. Program Description: The Partnership also sent more than 100 pounds of cloth- The local committee supported several in-country organi- ing and personal items to the Baghdad Christian zations through donations during and following the Aceh Orphanage by Trinity United Methodist Church, Saint Elias tsunami and Yogakarta earthquake(s). The committee also Orthodox Church and a variety of individual donors. supported the rebuilding of two schools. The committee also assisted in the “Thank You Celebration” for the U.S.S. Website: http://www.drcog.org/bdrp/ Lincoln and its sailors following their return from the tsunami work in the disaster relief. Even though some of our activities did not directly include programs in Type of program: Humanitarian Assistance/Health Care Surabaya, it was decided that our participation in “greater (Medical) needs” during times of crisis, and through humanitarian efforts, served as a form of good stewardship and witness U.S. Community: Baltimore, Maryland for the sister cities program at large. International Community: Luxor & Alexandria, Egypt Website: http://www.cityofseattle.net/oir/Surabaya.htm Program Description: Through a Sister City agreement between Baltimore City and Luxor City in Egypt, The Baltimore-Luxor-Alexandria 40 | | 41

Type of program: Humanitarian (Relief) Type of program: Humanitarian (Medical)/Disabilities/ Health Care U.S. Community: St. Louis, Missouri International Community: Bogor, Indonesia U.S. Community: Pleasant Hill, California International Community: Merzifon, Turkey Program Description: The St. Louis-Bogor Sister Cities Committee organized a Program Description: relief effort for Indonesian victims of the tsunami disaster. The project was a three-way partnership. The Pleasant Hill St. Louis-Bogor Sister Cities Committee coordinated the St. Rotary Club (representing Rotary International), Friends of Louis relief effort with the Embassy of the Republic of Merzifon (representing Sister Cities International), and the Indonesia. The St. Louis-Bogor Sister Cities Committee ini- Wheelchair Foundation joined forces to raise money for tiated the relief effort with help from several organiza- 280 wheelchairs for the disabled and handicapped people tions, including the Indonesian Consulate’s office; Permias in the city of Merzifon. - the Indonesian Student Association of St. Louis; PLN, the Indonesian Electric Power Company; the St. Louis Center A sturdy and practical wheelchair, especially manufactured for International Relations; and World Trade Center-Saint for the Wheelchair Foundation, costs $150. By raising Louis. $21,000 locally, Pleasant Hill Rotary and Friends of Merzifon qualified for matching funds from the Wheelchair Website: http://www.slcir.org/bogor_indonesia/ Foundation. Scott’s Seafood Grill and Bar in Walnut Creek hosted a luncheon for $75 per person, with all proceeds being donated to this project — a huge jump-start for the Type of program: Humanitarian (various)/Health Care fundraising effort. U.S. Community: Tempe, Arizona The Wheelchair Foundation shipped a container of 280 International Community: Timbuktu, Mali wheelchairs to Istanbul from where it was transported over- land by truck to Merzifon. Thanks to the contacts of Rotary Program Description: International and Sister Cities International, no dock fees, The Tempe-Timbuktu committee works on a number of customs duties, storage charges, or import taxes were humanitarian and development projects in Timbuktu. The assessed on the shipment. committee has fundraised to drill seven drinking wells in the sister city, they have sent a container of 240 wheel- The distribution of wheelchairs began on June 18, 2003, chairs and various medical supplies to Timbuktu, and pro- and continued over several weeks. A major ceremony was vided funds for a local Women’s Center. The committee held to initiate the distribution. Locally, volunteers from also funded two 3-day workshops on female circumcision, the Disabled and Handicapped Society of Merzifon organ- nutrition and AIDS. The committee also has an ongoing ized the distribution. During the distribution ceremony, a program to provide goats and sheep to needy families in twelve-year-old handicapped boy read a poem he wrote Timbuktu. about being handicapped. Website: http://www.tempesc.org/ Website: http://www.friendsofmerzifon.org/wheelchair_ delivery.html 42 | | 43

Type of program: Humanitarian (Various)/Health Care MUNICIPAL COOPERATION U.S. Community: Seattle, Washington International Community: Tashkent, Uzbekistan Type of program: Municipal Cooperation Program Description: U.S. Community: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania STSCA has completed a project bringing training on International Community: Mosul, Iraq domestic violence to the city of Tashkent, particularly for health professionals and police officials, and would like to Program Description: extend that work. A partner organization, Orphan Care for In March 2006, local Mosul officials and leaders visited Central Asia, has a long history of working with orphan- Philadelphia and Washington, DC, participating in meet- ages in Tashkent. The Committee is currently working ings that emphasized information exchange and cultural with Northwest Medical Teams to enhance medical equip- understanding. As the city works toward democracy, these ment for pediatric hospitals, and develop important exchanges provided valuable support to assist in this research—such as a birth defects registry—to improve process. public health care, especially for children. Website: http://www.sister-cities.org/Humanitarian Website: http://www.seattle-tashkent.org/ Assistance/Iraqiinitiative Type of program: Arts and Culture/ Municipal Cooperation U.S. Community: New York, New York International Community: Cairo, Egypt and other New York global partners Program Description: In 2005, the Sister City Program of the City of New York, Inc. hosted a one-and-a-half day Summit titled “Strategies for Public Art”. In collaboration with the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and with assistance provided by the Public Art Fund, the Summit was the first international conference to focus on the municipal challenges of public art. Nine of New York’s ten Sister Cities: Beijing, Budapest, Cairo, Jerusalem, Johannesburg, London, Madrid, Rome, and Tokyo sent delegations that included public officials responsible for public art, leaders in the public art field from the private sector and from local cultural institutions, and also artists with public art experience. The Summit explored 44 | | 45

the approaches and innovations some cities have developed Iowa. The name “Elkader” has special meaning to Algerian to meet these challenges, and noted the range of issues fac- citizens and those that visit Elkader say they feel a sense ing New York City and the Sister cities. For all participants, of peace or like being at home when they visit here. the Summit provided an opportunity to share best practices and strategies for success. Website: http://www.albuquerque-sister-cities.org/ Ashgabat.htm Website: http://www.nyc.gov/html/unccp/scp/html/ summit/art_summit.shtml Type of program: Municipal Cooperation Type of program: Other/Municipal Cooperation U.S. Community: Houston, Texas International Community: Baku, Azerbaijan U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois International Community: Amman, Jordan Program Description: A delegation of four representatives of different munici- Program Description: palities and regions in Azerbaijan recently visited two Working in cooperation with members of the Arab small cities in the Houston metropolitan area to see American Bar Association, the Amman Committee plans to American-style democracy in action. The visit was part of host Jordanian judges for one week during the month of the Open World program sponsored by the Open World November. Leadership Center, and administered by the Academy for Educational Development in partnership with Sister Cities Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/explore.php? International. This was the first time that a delegation pagename=Amman%20-%20Exchanges&section=Amman from Azerbaijan visited the United States as part of the Open World program, and this visit was hosted by the Houston-Baku Sister City committee. Type of program: Other/Municipal Cooperation Website: http://www.sistercitiesofhouston.org/cities/ U.S. Community: Elkader, Iowa baku/baku.htm International Community: Mascara, Algeria Program Description: Type of program: Arts and Culture/Education/Municipal The most successful activities have been the involvement Cooperation of the people-to-people exchanges and experiences which has brought down the barriers of indifference and misun- U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois derstanding between our two cultures. We have utilized International Community: Amman, Jordan Embassy contacts in times when it was not possible to communicate directly with city officials in Mascara. This Program Description: has worked to great success as we have had seven The Amman Cultural Committee has been working close- Ambassadors from Algeria visit our small city. Elkader, ly with the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Amman because of its contacts at all levels is perhaps better Children’s Museum to create a mutually beneficial partner- known in the country of Algeria then it is in the State of ship with exchange of ideas and expertise. With full sup- 46 | | 47

port from the Chicago Children’s Museum and Her Type of program: Municipal Cooperation Majesty Queen Rania, staff from the Chicago museum will, throughout the coming year, be supporting the staff in U.S. Community: Denver Regional Council of Amman by providing educational/staff training, program Governments, Colorado and exhibit development, and even assist in the creation of a mobile museum to help reach underprivileged chil- International Community: Baghdad, Iraq dren throughout Jordan. This will not only allow for the development of a great partnership, but will also provide Program Description: the opportunity for both sides to experience the different December 2003 marked the first time delegates from cultures of the wonderful cities of Chicago and Amman. Baghdad, Iraq traveled to Denver to learn about how to develop a functioning and modern government system. Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/explore.php? The goal of the program was that the delegates would pagename=Amman%20-%20Exchanges&section=Amman learn how to organize a government, how to preside over governmental functions, and how to provide government services. Four delegates met with officials from the state, Type of program: Other/Municipal Cooperation/ county, and municipal levels as well as the Board of Trilateral Partnership (Palestinian-Israeli-U.S. Sister DRCOG. During that visit, they expressed interest in learn- Cities) ing more about public/private partnerships and the organization of nonprofits. Mile High United Way answered that U.S. Community: Gainesville, Florida need and joined the partnership. International Community: Qalqilya, Palestinian Authority, Kfar Saba, Israel Since that visit, there have been three more visits to Denver. In addition, Rich Audsley, executive vice president Program Description: and chief operating officer of Mile High United Way, trav- This partnership was established after the community of eled to Amman, Jordan for a round-table program for Gainesville reached out to the two communities in the NGOs sponsored by the United Nations. In April 2005 Iraqi Middle East. The partnership has mainly focused on dele- delegates made another visit to Denver. On this trip, eight- gation visits. Prior to the Israeli and Palestinian delegation een officials from Baghdad arrived in Denver, Colorado to visits to Gainesville, the community contacts the delegates begin an intensive, two-week information-gathering and to determine what issues or topics are of interest to them. relationship-building mission. Their purpose was to learn The delegation visits have included trips to city facilities more about how the public/private partnerships work such as a regional landfill and recycling center. The Israeli together to meet the needs of the people. In addition to and Palestinian delegates have also expressed interest in various cultural and social activities, they participated in a learning more about different educational systems, there- series of meetings to help them build a new, civil society fore visits to local schools and community colleges have in Iraq. been planned. The partnership visits focus on good gov- ernance and city management rather than the Israeli- The meetings included: Palestinian conflict. An overview of the governmental system in Colorado and the United States (federal, state, county, local) Website: http://www.gnvsistercities.org/?page=kfarsaba An overview of local law enforcement as a community resource 48 | | 49

Observation of the Colorado State Legislature, the Type of program: Municipal Cooperation Arvada City Council, the Douglas County Commission, and the DRCOG Board of Directors U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois An overview of the Colorado Nonprofit Sector International Community: Amman, Jordan An introduction to the United Way’s methods of serving the community by creating partnerships and col- Program Description: laborations In May 2006, Mayor Daley and members of the Amman A discussion of a possible NGO training curriculum Committee traveled to Amman, Jordan to further the rela- and continuing education through the University of tionship between our two Sister Cities. We met with vari- Denver Graduate School of International Studies ous officials and dignitaries, members of the business and the Denver International Program community, medical community, and social service organ- Discussions between government and NGO repre- izations and toured some historical and biblical sites. Our sentatives regarding possible partnerships hosts in Amman succeeded in portraying the beautiful and Discussions on possible public/private partnerships rich culture of the Arab world. On the last day of the trip, for water/wastewater management Mayor Daley addressed a business leaders’ luncheon hosted by the Amman Chamber of Commerce. His slide show Website: http://www.drcog.org/bdrp presentation described the amazing transformation of our city during the past seventeen years, culminating with pic- tures of Millennium Park. The audience was absolutely Type of program: Municipal Cooperation blown away by his vision and his accomplishments. U.S. Community: Washington, DC Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/explore.php? International Community: Dakar, Senegal pagename=Amman%20-%20Exchanges&section=Amman Program Description: DC-Dakar’s Ordinary People-to-People Civic Exchange is all Type of program: Arts and Culture (Sister Libraries)/ about collaborative solution-orientation through ordinary Education/Municipal Cooperation citizen participation in issues of professional interest. The partner (1) investigates Dakar’s Mayor’s professional inter- U.S. Community: Various ests relevant to cities’ infrastructures; (2) establishes and International Community: Various interacts with members of DC-Dakar Families, Emerging Leaders and Leaders Civic Club and (3) is available as a Program Description: resource partner serving learners and their educators in A Sister Libraries program offers a great opportunity for their study for the theme, Cities and Their Structures. sister cities to exchange information and materials, collab- orate for special events, educate the community about Website: http://www.usasc.org/Search/DC-Dakar.html another culture, raise the library’s international visibility, and offer opportunities for library staff to learn more about the international library profession. The American Library Association suggests many activities that can be part of a Sister Libraries program: Exchange information between libraries. 50 | | 51

Promote awareness of the library and its international “reach.” SPORTS Improve access to published information in both countries. Type of program: Sports Raise awareness of issues and needs facing libraries U.S. Community: Houston, Texas in various countries. International Community: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Offer opportunities to learn more about a region or country represented by an immigrant group in your Program Description: community. Houston Sister Cities hosts an annual Men’s Soccer Share techniques and technologies to help solve Tournament for Houston soccer teams to compete against problems. teams from Houston’s sister cities. Broaden both your own and your staff’s view of the library profession. Website: http://www.sistercitiesofhouston.org/abudhabi.htm Increase staff and community knowledge of other cultures. Increase diversity of interaction between profession- Type of program: Sports als. Share strengths through exchange of resources and U.S. Community: Seattle, Washington expertise. International Community: Tashkent, Uzbekistan Address weaknesses by providing resources, training and exposure. Program Description: The Seattle-Tashkent Committee completed an alpinist exchange. Website: http://wikis.ala.org/sisterlibraries/index.php/ A team of 10 Seattle and 10 Tashkent climbers spent one month How_to_find_a_Sister_Library doing alpine climbs together in Uzbekistan. The following sum- mer, Seattle hosted a team of mountaineers from Tashkent. Website: http://www.seattle-tashkent.org/ Type of program: Sports U.S. Community: Seattle, Washington International Community: Tashkent, Uzbekistan Program Description: In the 1980s the Seattle-Tashkent Committee partnered with Amputee Soccer International to develop the sport of amputee soccer in Uzbekistan. Numerous sporting exchanges took place between Seattle and Tashkent soccer players. Website: http://www.seattle-tashkent.org/ 52 | | 53

TECHNOLOGY TRILATERAL PARTNERSHIPS Type of program: Education/Technology Type of program: Other/Municipal Cooperation/Trilateral Partnership (Palestinian-Israeli- U.S. Community: Tucson, Arizona U.S. Sister Cities) International Community: Sulaimaniah, Iraq U.S. Community: Gainesville, Florida Program Description: International Community: Qalqilya, Palestinian The first exchange brought two professors focused on Authority, Kfar Saba, Israel crop sciences from the University of Sulaimaniah to the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Program Description: Sciences (CALS) to participate in a short course focused on This partnership was established after the community of crop production, engineering, marketing, pest manage- Gainesville reached out to the two communities in the ment, and environmental control. The two universities Middle East. The partnership has mainly focused on dele- signed and finalized a Memorandum of Understanding, gation visits. Prior to the Israeli and Palestinian delegation committing them to continued student and faculty visits to Gainesville, the community contacts the delegates exchanges. to determine what issues or topics are of interest to them. The delegation visits have included trips to city facilities Website: http://www.sister-cities.org/Humanitarian such as a regional landfill and recycling center. The Israeli Assistance/Iraqiinitiative and Palestinian delegates have also expressed interest in learning more about different educational systems, there- fore visits to local schools and community colleges have been planned. The partnership visits focus on good gov- ernance and city management rather than the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. Website: http://www.gnvsistercities.org/?page=kfarsaba Type of program: Trilateral Partnership (Jordanian, Israeli and U.S. Sister Cities) U.S. Community: Birmingham, Alabama International Community: Karak, Jordan and Rosh Ha’ayin, Israel Program Description: Two activities are central to the Sister Cities relationship between Karak and Birmingham: 1) Jordan and Israel are 54 | | 55

being featured in 2007-08 in the year-long programming Type of program: Trilateral Partnership (Palestinian- of the Birmingham International Center. This will include Israeli-U.S. Sister Cities) school-based programs, cultural exchanges, arts and cultural exchange, social programs, seminars and work- U.S. Community: Burlington, Vermont shops, teacher training, and other extensive government International Community: Bethlehem, Palestinian and community involvement. 2) A Birmingham coalition Authority, Arad, Israel (higher education institutions, local non-profits, and local school systems) has applied for Department of State fund- Program Description: ing for a three-year program to provide training to local, The Burlington-Bethlehem-Arad Sister City Program began Jordanian, and Israeli educators and youth leaders to in 1991. Burlington, VT hosted a four-day visit from leaders develop programs in youth leadership training, including of both Bethlehem and Arad. The group is governed by a cit- planning, public policy, conflict resolution, mediation, and izen committee, which works closely with the Mayor’s other training, leading to greater youth involvement in Office. The committee receives a small amount of funding local government and public policy making. annually from the city’s general fund. The committee fundraises throughout the year for their projects. The com- Website: http://www.birminghamsistercities.com/ mittee works towards three goals: to support cultural Jordan.asp exchanges, to facilitate programs that foster understanding and promote peace in the region and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Bethlehem. The committee has Type of program: Education/Trilateral Partnership sponsored dialogues, exchanges, and various activities. (Palestinian-Israeli-U.S. Sister Cities) Activities fostering dialogue and education include: U.S. Community: Burlington, Vermont The committee brought the Israeli Consul General International Community: Bethlehem, Palestinian from Boston and a representative of the Palestinian Authority, Arad, Israel Mission to the U.N. for an educational forum in Burlington. Program Description: Hosting “Jerusalem Women Speak”, a program of The Burlington-Bethlehem-Arad committee hosted Partners for Peace, for a speaking engagement in “Jerusalem Women Speak: Three Women, Three Faiths, One Burlington. The Jerusalem women travel nationally Shared Vision” in Burlington for a speaking engagement. to speak of their experiences as Muslims, This program, sponsored by Partners for Peace Christians and Jews and their vision for peace. (http://www.partnersforpeace.org/), brings together three women from the Jerusalem area to speak about their expe- Fundraising activities include: riences and vision for peace as women of different faiths The Sister City committee and the former mayor col- and national groups. The women tour the country. lected more than $12,000 during the “Special Communities who are interested in inviting the Jerusalem Collection for Bethlehem” fundraising drive. By rais- Women Speak to visit their community should contact ing local awareness of the worsening humanitarian Partners for Peace. crisis in Bethlehem, the committee raised funds through donations from local churches and individu- Website: http://www.partnersforpeace.org/ als. The funds were directed to Bethlehem-based jerusalem_more shtml organizations such as Bethlehem University, Beit 56 | | 57

Sahur Medical Center, the Pontifical Mission Library, the Epheta Institute for Hearing Impaired Children. WOMEN’S ISSUES Exchanges include: Type of program: Other/Women’s Issues The Committee and the former mayor worked with the University of Vermont to welcome a group of U.S. Community: Washington, DC Palestinian and Israeli basketball coaches to Burlington for a training program. International Community: Dakar, Senegal The former mayor visited Arad and Bethlehem on a number of occasions. He made a presentation Program Description: about the Trilateral partnership at a conference of The DC committee has been able to fundraise for the Israeli sister cities in Jerusalem. English Club that the committee established in Senegal by The Committee sponsors Israeli, Palestinian and hosting DC home tours and dinners at the Embassy of U.S. teens to attend the Seeds of Peace Camp in Senegal. The committee also fundraises by holding an Maine. Ambassadors’ lunch for female ambassadors to the United In cooperation with local university and the States from Africa. Local citizens can attend the lunch and Sheraton Hotel, the Committee established a three- meet with the female ambassadors. month internship in hospitality and hotel management for students from Bethlehem University. Website: http://www.usasc.org/Search/DC-Dakar.html Cultural Activities include: The Committee entered four films from Bethlehem and Arad in the Burlington International Film Festival. Humanitarian activities include: Sending medical supplies to hospitals in Bethlehem. Sending money to Arad to assist needy children in attending an after-school program. Sending Burlingtonians to volunteer in Bethlehem; picking olives and working at local refugee camps. A local Burlington church sent donations to help rebuild a church in Bethlehem. Website: http://www.ci.burlington.vt.us/sistercities/ 58 | | 59

Type of program: Youth/Arts and Culture/Education YOUTH PROGRAMS U.S. Community: Houston, Texas International Community: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Type of program: Youth Programs/Arts and Culture Emirates U.S. Community: Baltimore, Maryland International Community: Luxor & Alexandria, Egypt Program Description: The Houston Sister Cities Committee reached out to ele- Program Description: mentary schools by having them participate in the The Baltimore-Luxor-Alexandria Sister Cities Committee Houston International Festival in April. Abu Dhabi was rep- partnered with an art museum in Baltimore to create a youth resented by third graders from Hobby Elementary, leading art contest. Local youth were invited to submit artwork por- the Children’s Parade that opened the festival. The two traying Egypt in any way to the art museum for display and boys and two girls who carried the Abu Dhabi banner were competition. The project encourages youth to learn about appropriately dressed in authentic outfits from the UAE. Egypt and think about what the country means to them. Prior to the event, two board members visited the school to present a talk-and-slide show and introduce Abu Dhabi Website: http://www.baltimoreegypt.org/ to the marchers. Website: http://www.sistercitiesofhouston.org/ Type of program: Youth/Education abudhabi.htm U.S. Community: Washington, DC International Community: Dakar, Senegal Type of program: Youth/Education Program Description: U.S. Community: Tucson, Arizona The most successful activity of this partnership has been International Community: Almaty, Kazakhstan the PADEC activity. The PADEC activity is an English Club in Dakar, Senegal that DC-Dakar Sister Cities has supported Program Description: for the past 15 years. It started with 20 children and today The University of Arizona (UA) signed an agreement linking there are over 600 in the program. The DC committee the University with the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University sends financial support, supplies, computers and books. in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The agreement promotes faculty, The committee also helped to establish a computer center student and curriculum exchanges between the two univer- at the English club. Whenever DC delegations visit Dakar, sities. UA math professor William Faris, a former Fulbright they bring supplies for the club. The DC committee has scholar in Russia, is the faculty sponsor for the new agree- been able to fundraise for the English club by hosting ment. A partnership was first suggested by an Almaty high home tours and dinners at the Embassy of Senegal. We also school student who was in Tucson as part of an internation- fundraise by holding an African Ambassadors lunch for al Sister Cities exchange program. That prompted Jerry Gary, female ambassadors from Africa. Our local citizens can chair of the Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities committee, to meet attend the lunch and meet with the ambassadors. with Kazakhstani university administrators to gauge their interest in a possible relationship. Although Gary got an Website: http://www.usasc.org/Search/DC-Dakar.html enthusiastic response, it wasn’t until Daulet Kalanov, from 60 | | 61

Astana, Kazakhstan, became a UA student that the relation- Type of program: Youth/Education ship began to move ahead. Kalanov’s mother, an employee at the Ministry of Education in Kazakhstan, heard about the U.S. Community: Long Beach, California meeting from her son and encouraged the Al-Farabi officials International Community: Izmir, Turkey to submit a formal request to President Likins. Program Description: Website: http://www.tucson-almaty.info/ Seven Washington Middle School eighth-graders embarked on an overseas journey to attend Space Camp Turkey in the city of Izmir. The trip marks the second year Type of program: Youth/Arts and Culture Washington Middle School students have been awarded scholarships from Global Friendship Through Space U.S. Community: Tucson, Arizona Education to attend the one-week Partner School Science International Community: Almaty, Kazakhstan Program, which aims to expand students’ knowledge of math and science and promote cross-cultural understand- Program Description: ing through collaborative research and hands-on activi- American students in Tucson created short videos docu- ties. The students were selected to participate based on menting their lives and activities to send to their sister their academic success and citizenship. school in Almaty. The Almaty students responded by creating their own videos about life in Kazakhstan. The In preparation for their adventure, the children and their Committee has also organized several high school teachers used e-mail and videoconferencing to converse exchanges and sponsored students from Kazakhstan to with students of the same age from Gelisim College in Izmir attend universities in Arizona. about space-related technologies, as well as what their lives are like in their home countries. During their week at Space Website: http://www.tucson-almaty.info/ Camp Turkey, the students meet the children from Gelisim College and from other countries, share their cultures, and develop friendships formed through a common interest in Type of program: Youth/Education space. They learn and discuss common global issues regarding space, including sharing of space nations and U.S. Community: Fort Worth, Texas keeping space clean and safe. They also learn the history of International Community: Bandung, Indonesia NASA, build and launch rockets, experience flight simula- tion, and be assigned roles with specific tasks to conduct Program Description: their own space mission. “Washington Middle School is in a Fort Worth Sister Cities International received a donation neighborhood of Long Beach that is plagued with violence, of books from the Fort Worth City Library. Our plan was to drugs, gangs and poverty,” says Susan Yamaguchi, business donate pre-selected books to our Sister City in Bandung, manager for the school. “This trip fulfills a vision of seeing Indonesia. The books were provided to the City Washington students experience international awareness, Government of Bandung for distribution to libraries or exposure to new cultures and peace amongst all people, all schools to promote English language training for young while learning about space and science.” readers and students. The scholarships awarded by GFTSE covered only the one- Website: http://fwsistercities.org/about/sistercity/bandung.htm week camp. Yamaguchi, the students, their parents, 62 | | 63

Washington science teacher Mark Stone, and Washington Website: http://portfoliolab.org/PORTAL/Desktop student aide Maria Canela conducted fundraising activities Modules/ShowArticle.aspx?pId=35&TabId=615&mId=252 throughout the year to earn the needed $23,000 for airfare 4&ItemId=1716 and other expenses. One of the most profitable fundraisers was a dinner and silent auction. More than 150 local business and individuals donated items for the auction. Type of program: Youth/Education Generous contributions were also made by founders of GFTSE and Space Camp Turkey Kaya and Mary Tuncer, U.S. Community: San Diego, California Washington math teacher Mario Guillen, Halliburton, the International Community: Jalalabad, Afghanistan Los Angeles Turkish American Association, the Michael Levy Galleries, and the Los Angeles Super Shuttle. Program Description: San Diego-Jalalabad Sister Cities partners with the Rotary The newly founded Izmir-Long Beach Sister Cities Club to implement programs and activities in Afghanistan. Association leaders have pledged ongoing support for the The San Diego-Jalalabad Sister Cities makes a significant Partner School Science Program at Space Camp Turkey. difference in Jalalabad education through proactive out- Izmir has been an official sister city to Long Beach since reach, through the building and equipping of a K-12 December 2005. The program will be developed to become school, and through initiatives with Nangarhar University. an integral part of the Izmir Long Beach Sister Cities pro- After consulting with Afghani government officials and cit- grams. “The Izmir-Long Beach Sister Cities Association will izens, several Rotarians began moving forward with the continue to support the success of the program by motivat- establishment of a Jalalabad school. Rotarian and architect ing, engaging and empowering private citizens, municipal Rick Clark designed plans for elementary, middle, and officials and business leaders from Long Beach and the high school phases; all three have been constructed. The Turkish American community in Southern California,” said school’s 6,000 English dictionaries have been distributed Dennis Aytekin, president of the Turkish-North American to faculty and students. Later, the Afghan school part- Business Alliance. The students, who were accompanied by nered with a San Diego school for a sister schools relation- science teacher Stone and aide Canela, returned from their ship. The San Diego students raised funds for school sup- trip in July. plies for their sister school, and the Jalalabad students sent letters in reply. Global Friendship Through Space Education is a California- based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to pro- The Nangarhar University activities include partnering the moting friendship through the experience of hands-on university with San Diego State University, enhancing space education in a camp environment. By awarding Nangarhar University’s English as a Second Language pro- scholarships, GFTSE provides young people with an oppor- gram, and funding a computer lab at the university. tunity to attend a Space Camp program specifically designed for 12- to 16-year-olds. More information visit Website: http://www.sandiegojalalabadsistercities.org/ www.gftse.org. Sister Cities of Long Beach Inc. enjoys eight Sister Cities and one Friendship City relationship with communities around the world, including Izmir, Turkey. It hosts more than 25 international delegations per year and the Annual International Sister City Festival, drawing close to 1,000 attendees. 64 | | 65

Type of program: Youth/Education tee of the Casablanca Committee, and many visiting delegates from Chicago. The President of Hassan II University U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois opened the conference and welcomed all participants. International Community: Amman, Jordan Presentations by the Vice President of Hassan II and the Dean of the Faculty of Law focused on the organization of Program Description: the Moroccan educational system and on the reform efforts The Chicago Sister Schools program started in 1999 as a currently underway at all levels of that system. The Vice partnership between the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and President of Al Akhawayne University, a private school, Chicago Sister Cities. All schools in the district are eligible to explained their system of private higher education. take part in the program, including non-CPS schools in Chicago. While most Sister Schools relationships in Chicago The afternoon brought delegates to the Superior Institute deal with language, they are currently hoping to expand to of Commerce and Enterprise Administration (ISCAE) for a include additional academic areas like science, arts and the- tour of its beautiful facility and a visit with the Director, atre. The education committee is working to develop ties students and faculty. Delegates were very impressed with between schools in both cities, including encouraging Arabic the high level of preparation these students are receiving language programs in Chicago, through the Sister Schools - and achieving – with the aim of increasing Morocco’s par- program. The Amman Committee has established Sister ticipation in the international business community. School relationships between Bowen Environmental Studies Team (Best) High School, Thomas Kelly High School and Additional visits were made during the week to a number of Ferdinand Peck Elementary School in Chicago and Ein Jaloot other educational institutions, such as Al Jisr Association, Comprehensive School for Girls, Ahliyyah School for Girls an organization that has been instrumental throughout and Jamil Shaker Secondary School in Amman, respectively. Morocco in creating partnerships between public schools Chicago Sister Cities is very involved in funding these pro- and private organizations. Al Jisr has focused particularly in grams and making sure the partnerships are long-lasting. creating these relationships with pre-schools and primary schools in order to bring more resources to bear in the early Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/explore.php? years of children’s education and to ensure the attainment pagename=Amman%20-%20Exchanges&section=Amman of basic literacy skills at those levels. Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/news.php? Type of program: Youth/Education/Arts and Culture newsid=103 U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois International Community: Casablanca, Morocco Type of program: Youth Program Description: U.S. Community: Chicago, Illinois March 7 through the 13 was designated Chicago Week in International Community: Casablanca, Morocco Casablanca, and Monday morning began with a conference comparing the educational systems of Morocco, Chicago Program Description: and the United States. The conference was attended by In conjunction with Chicago Week in Casablanca, a delega- Casablancans from various branches of Moroccan education of 80 traveled to Chicago’s sister city Casablanca on tional institutions, members of the education subcommit- a threefold mission—youth, volunteerism, and parks. The 66 | | 67

group included more than a dozen students from Walter Payton College Prep and 40 members of the South Shore Drill Team & Performing Arts Ensemble, as well as Casablanca Committee members, landscape architects and representatives of Friends of the Parks. Thanks to a substantial donation from the Comer Foundation, the Drill Team, ages 13-20, performed in Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakesh. In addition, the teens interacted with their Moroccan counterparts through sports, music and studies. The Drill Team rehearsed to Moroccan music in preparation for their performances in the North African country. Website: http://www.chicagosistercities.com/news.php? newsid=103 68 |

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