REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Commendation of the 40th Anniversary of the City of Santa Clara and City of Izumo Sister Cities
Report
BACKGROUND
On October 11, 1986, the City of Santa Clara, California and the City of Izumo, Shimane Prefecture, Japan entered into a Sister City agreement (Attachment 1). The Santa Clara-Izumo Sister City relationship exemplifies the significant impact that the Sister City relationship has made to connecting communities across the globe to foster an international relationship in the United States and Japan.
Established in 1972, the Santa Clara Sister Cities Association (SCSCA) is a local nonprofit organization and a member of the Sister Cities International organization and the Northern California Sister Cities. The SCSCA strives to enrich the lives of our students through cultural exchanges to build strong leadership skills and enhance goodwill and global understanding. The SCSCA has three Sister Cities which include Coimbra, Portugal; Izumo, Japan; and Limerick, Ireland. In addition, Santa Clara has established a Friendship City with Icheon, Republic of Korea. The SCSCA has been supported, in part, by a grant from the City of Santa Clara and through fundraising efforts led by the Board of the association comprised of volunteers from the community.
Student exchanges have been a cornerstone of the Santa Clara-Izumo Sister City relationship for nearly four decades. Since 1987, students from both communities have participated in cultural and educational exchanges that foster international friendships and understanding. Following a four-year interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, exchanges resumed in 2023. From 2023 through 2026, 24 Santa Clara high school students traveled to Izumo, while 35 middle and high school students from Izumo visited Santa Clara from 2024 through 2026.
Community partnerships have long been an integral part of the exchange program, bringing together local educational institutions, City departments, ...
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