Sister Cities Exchanges

Belleville Sister Cities Exchange Programs

In order to encourage the people of our area to stay connected to their German roots, learn about another culture and way of life, and develop or improve German language skills, BSC sponsors three Exchange Programs in which local residents can participate. Participants must join the organization in order to participate:

The Summer Youth Exchange

In the middle of each summer, BSC sponsors a reciprocal exchange between youth from the Belleville area and those from Paderborn. In odd numbered years (2019, 2021, 2023...), we host a group of 12 youths from Paderborn who come to the Belleville area for approximately two weeks to stay with an American host family, which, ideally, hast at least one teenager between the ages of 16-19 who will serve at the German’s “partner” as the exchange progresses. Interested families apply for this program in January or February preceding each visit.

During the German students’ visit here, BSC pays for a number of activities for the visiting students and their hosts—baseball games, trips to local attractions, a two day trip to Chicago, and various receptions and get-togethers for the group. One person from each host family is invited to participate in these activities along with the German guest, courtesy of BSC. Other family members who also wish to participate may do so, but at their own expense.

Families who host a German youth are expected to provide meals and a separate bed (not a separate bedroom) for their guests, and also to include their guests in any activities which the host family plans during the Germans’ stay here without cost to the German student.

In return, during the even numbered years (2020, 2022, 2024...), BSC send a chaperoned group of 12 American students to Paderborn for a three week stay. All those who hosted one of the Germans during their most recent stay, or definitely will host during the next exchange, are automatically included in this group.

During their stay in Paderborn, students are hosted by a German family (ideally, the same family whose student they hosted in the USA). They are also provided with meals and a separate bed, and are treated to a number of trips and activities—both in—and outside the Paderborn area during their stay in Germany, courtesy of the Deutsch-Amerikanischer Freundeskreis (or DAFK, BSC’s German counterpart).

Students who are selected for this program will receive $1000 or up to half of the cost of airfare from Belleville Sister Cities; they must pay the remainder. In addition, they must obtain a passport, purchase a “thank you” gift for their host families to thank them for their hospitality, and arrange for some spending money for snacks, souvenirs, etc. during their three week stay in Germany.

The Three-Month Fall Exchange

Belleville Sister Cities and the Deutsch-Amerikanischer Freundeskreis also conduct a longer, three month student-to-student exchange program. Interested students in the US apply for this program also in January or February of the year in which they will host. After having their applications approved, they are matched with a compatible student from Paderborn who will arrive at the beginning of school and stay for 90 days, until end of October or the beginning of November.

This program differs from the Summer Exchange considerably. The visiting German students attend school with their partners at Belleville East and Belleville West High Schools. They register for classes which they choose and pay their own registration fees plus any additional fees for physical exams, shots, etc. They must do homework and receive passing grades in all of their classes. They can participate in most school activities, but cannot compete in games or other competitions with other schools. The American students also attend classes in Paderborn, but for a much shorter period of time—1 week during the month of June. They do not receive grades and do not have to pay any fees. They stay in Paderborn for six to nine weeks, depending upon the wishes of the German host family, and spend at least three weeks with their hosts during the German’s summer break.

If the American student stays in Germany for a shorter period of time than the German spent in the US, the German family will financially compensate the American family $700 if they host 90 days to offset the additional expenses which the American family incurred during the German student’s stay here.

Currently, Belleville Sister Cities provides a stipend of $1000 or up to half of the cost of the airfare.

For further information and/or application forms, please contact:

Andy Gaa, Belleville East German Department, BSC President and Youth Exchange Chair

618-978-9690 agaa@bths201.org

Here are some pictures from the Sister Cities Summer Exchange 2016