From Belgium, Netherlands Foreign teenagers visit Cebu for youth exchange program

CEBU, Philippines - To foster relations with sister cities Kortrijk and Haarlemmermeer, 20 teenagers from Belgium and the Netherlands arrived in Cebu yesterday as part of the multi-youth exchange program, primarily organized by the Young Heroes of Cebu (YHC).

The YHC wanted the youth of these cities to interact with our own youth.YHC is supported by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated.

“We are building relationships and understanding others’ culture,” said Ruby Langeweld, the program’s adult leader.

For less than a month, the foreign youths will be exposed to different communities and non-government organizations. Among those that they will be visiting are FORGE foundation, the Badjao communities in Cebu, Missionaries of the Poor, SOS Children’s Village, and Cebu Technological University’s agricultural campus in Barili.

The most highlighted activity of this program is the house-building outreach program at Gawad Kalinga (GK). In the previous years, they built houses in Lilo-an, Bogo, Talisay, Dumanjug and Badian. This year, they will be immersing at GK Mandaue.

The youths will also experience living as a Cebuano under foster families in Cebu City. They will be in the city until July 31.

The organizers are hoping that the rest of the City will be aware of their program and the city’s tie-up with these European countries. (FREEMAN)