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Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council Logo

03/04/2023

Local Students are selected for Sister City Student Exchange Programme

Four students from the Borough are set to embark on an exciting adventure as they trade their umbrellas for sunglasses and head to Gilbert in the Grand Canyon state of Arizona.

Four students from the Borough are set to embark on an exciting adventure as they trade their umbrellas for sunglasses and head to Gilbert in the Grand Canyon state of Arizona. The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman Stephen Ross congratulated the students for being selected to participate in the Council’s Sister City Student Exchange Programme.

Now in its 20th year, the programme is providing even more students with the opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of Arizona.  This year, four students will participate in the six-week exchange programme, which involves spending three weeks with a host family in Gilbert and hosting a Gilbert student for three weeks in Antrim and Newtownabbey. Each student is carefully matched with an American counterpart and will host their student in their home over the summer.

This exchange programme offers a unique opportunity for students to learn about their hosts' local cultures and customs. During their stay, they will have the chance to experience local culture up close and make lifelong friends by living with the family of their exchange student.

The Mayor expressed his delight at the opportunity these students have been given, commenting;

“Travel is known to broaden the mind, and I have no doubt that the young people embarking on this journey will experience personal growth and development. This longstanding programme is a testament to its success, and the cultural benefits to the individuals are evident. I am confident that they will each have a memorable time with the families in our Sister City, and I wish them a pleasant trip to the Borough this summer.”