Yuki and Katie at the Attica Rodeo.
Katie and Yuki ready to ride.
Submitted photos and press release:
A local Genesee County 4-H family is hosting a youth delegate from the States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs (S4-H).
The Summer Inbound program brings international youth to the United States each summer to stay with a host family for four weeks. The Ewert family, of Batavia, applied to be a host family in May and was then matched with a youth delegate from Japan.
Doug and Nancy Ewert’s daughter Katie, is an active member of the Genesee County 4-H Horse Program and was paired up as a “host sibling” to Yuki Ishigaki from Hanesawa, Japan. Yuki arrived in Batavia the last week of July; the girls have become fast friends and have enjoyed several fun experiences together.
They have gone horseback riding, attended the Attica Rodeo, participated in the summer park recreation program and are planning to visit the Pike Fair and Niagara Falls. They are learning a lot about each other’s cultures, along with new ways to communicate.
S4-H is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Seattle. It works with 4-H Youth Development Programs in the United States and international partners around the world to conduct immersion and exchange programs. S4-H’s mission is “enhancing world understanding and global citizenship through high-quality 4-H international and cultural immersion and exchange programs for 4-H aged youth.” Since 1972, their exchanges have impacted nearly 50,000 youth and their families in 24 countries on six continents.
To learn more about S4-H visit: http://www.states4hexchange.org/ To learn more about Genesee Co. 4-H visit: http://genesee.cce.cornell.edu/4-h-youth-development
