Youth Exchanges

Over the years, student exchanges between Suffolk, Virginia, and our Sister Cities in Oderzo, Italy, and Suffolk County, England, have resulted in many lasting friendships. Each summer, teenagers from Suffolk journey to Oderzo, an "archeological city" in the Veneto region, for a two-week homestay. While there, the students tour Venice and other locales, but also interact with their Italian hosts on a personal level. At the same time, Italian teenagers are hosted by American families, enjoying boat trips, ball games, Busch Gardens, and other typical summer activities.

An additional special relationships has been formed with Bury St. Edmunds, the fine arts center of Suffolk County known for its beautiful English gardens and historic abbey ruins. Student musicians from local high schools have held exchanges with the Bury St. Edmunds County Upper School Swing Band, an award-winning performance group. Serving as citizen diplomats, as well as musical ambassadors, has had an enormous impact on young people on both sides of the ocean.

Suffolk Sister Cities International has several travel opportunities for local teenagers in 2018! You can:
    • Travel to Italy as a Student Ambassador
    • Host an Italian Student Ambassador
    • Attend the Sister Cities International Youth Leadership Summit

Informational Poster Here
Citizen Diplomat Application Here