2010 & 2011
STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

Trip to Izumo in 2010
Trip to Coimbra in 2011

APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR BOTH TRIPS IS JANUARY 8, 2010

Contact Mrs. Pavao (408-244-9428 or dpavao.scsca@gmail.com) for any questions.

SCSCA offers scholarships to high-school students in Santa Clara for the student-exchange programs with Coimbra, Portugual, and Izumo, Japan, which are our sister cities. The scholarship program offers the students an opportunity to work with the citizens of Santa Clara, get involved in their international exchange efforts, and visit and meet people in our sister cities.


Eligibility
Applicant for the SCSCA student exchange program must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  1. Applicant must be a freshman, sophomore, or junior in high school. Exceptions may sometimes be made for high-school seniors.
  2. Applicant must be in the Santa Clara Unified School District or a resident of the City of Santa Clara.
  3. Applicant must demonstrate commitment to the SCSCA organization and participate in its fund-raising events (See list of events on the Calendar page).

Application

1. Download all of the following pages and prepare the application documents.

  1. Application Instructions

  2. Application for hosting a student: Pages 1 and 2

  3. Application for student exchange: Pages 1 and 2 and 3

2. Submit all of the application documents to Santa Clara Sister Cities Association at PO Box 3425, Santa Clara, CA 95055, before the application deadline on January 8, 2010. Contact Mrs. Pavao (408-244-9428 or dpavao.scsca@gmail.com) with any questions.


Frequently Asked Questions

1. How does the student exchange program with our sister cities work?
Students interested in the scholarship program must submit an application. SCSCA chooses two students for a trip to Izumo each year and approximately half a dozen students for a trip to Coimbra every other year. Each trip is 10 days long.

The Izumo program is an even exchange. Each year, two high-school students from the City of Izumo visit Santa Clara in the spring, and two students from Santa Clara visit Izumo in the summer. The families of the students chosen for this program are required to host the students visiting from Izumo for a stay at their homes.

Families of the students involved in the Coimbra program are also encouraged to host students visiting from Coimbra.


2. How are the students chosen for the exchange programs?
SCSCA will select the students based on the following:

  1. Application documents
  2. Commitment to and participation in the SCSCA activities. This will be the most important selection criteria.
  3. Interviews with the student and his/her guardian(s), which are to be scheduled after the application documents are submitted (See the Program Timelines at the bottom of this page.).

3. What expenses will the SCSCA scholarship cover, and what will be the student out-of-pocket expenses?

The student exchange trip typically costs a total of around $2000 per student, depending on the airfare. SCSCA pays $1000 for each student, and the student is responsible for the balance of the trip cost, which is outlined as below:

Airfair, ground transportations, other expenses$1500-$1600
Stipends$300-$400
Total trip cost$1800-$2000
Amount paid by SCSCA toward the travel expenses ($1000)
Difference or the student out-of-pocket cost$800-$1000

*In addition, students are strongly encouraged to bring gifts, typically costing around $3.00 to $5.00, to their host families. Customs vary by culture, and more information will be provided during orientation.


4. What are the student responsibilities in participating in the program?

The students going on the exchange trip should always remember that they represent our city, state, and country and act accordingly.

The students chosen for the program are also required to participate in the following activities:

  1. Participate in the SCSCA fund raiser events
  2. Spend time with the students visiting from our sister cities
  3. Attend orientation meetings to prepare for the trip
  4. Make a trip report presentation to the members of the SCSCA
  5. Make a trip report presentation at a Santa Clara City Council meeting
  6. Continue involvement with the SCSCA and help other students going on the future exchange trips

Before going on the trip, the student and his/her guardian(s) will be asked to do the following:
  1. Obtain a travel insurance
  2. Obtain a valid passport
  3. Sign a No-Alcohol contract

PROGRAM TIMELINES

Trip to Izumo in 2010

January 8 (Friday)
Application deadline for the 2010 trip
January end
Applicant interviews. SCSCA members visit finalist homes and meet with their guardians.
February
Two students are chosen for the exchange trip and begin an orientation program.
March
Two students from Izumo visit Santa Clara for 10 days and home stay with the families of the students chosen for the Izumo trip.
Mid to late July
Two Santa Clara students visit Izumo for 10 days and home stay with the Izumo students.
August and September
Students give presentations on their trip to the SCSCA members and the City Council

Trip to Coimbra in 2011

January 8 (Friday), 2010
Application deadline for the 2011 trip
Spring 2010
Students from Coimbra visit Santa Clara for 10 days.
Throughout 2010 and 2011
Applicants for the Coimbra trip participate in various SCSCA fund raisers
January 2011
Applicants are interviewed.
February 2011
Students are chosen for the trip to Coimbra.
Spring 2011
Santa Clara students visit Coimbbra for 10 days.
April and May 2011
Students give presentations on their trip to the SCSCA members and the City Council











 







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