United in Wokingham in diversity
On Thursday (July 26) a welcoming ceremony was held in Wokingham Borough Council’s council chamber for over 60 young people who had arrived from around the world for a week-long youth exchange.
The exchange, organised by Wokingham Borough Council’s youth service and funded by the European Commission, has seen young people from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, France, the Basque area of Spain and the Wokingham Borough explore the meaning of international citizenship.
The young people were welcomed to the Wokingham Borough by mayor Cllr Annette Drake, champion for youth and leisure Cllr Malcolm Bryant and head of youth service Nigel Shaw. The opening ceremony was a chance for the young people to meet for the first time, share where they were from and their hopes for the week’s event.
The young people arrived on Wednesday (July 25) and six youth centres hosted an individual country for the evening - Twyford Youth Centre hosted Turkey, Wokingham Youth Centre hosted Lebanon, Bulmershe Youth Centre hosted the Basque area of Spain, Woodley Airfield Youth Centre hosted France, Earley Centrepoint Youth Centre hosted Syria and Silverdale Youth Centre hosted Palestine. Members of the council’s youth service’s street work team hosted Jordan.
Following the welcoming ceremony, the young people went to Reading University to settle into their accommodation, which was then followed by ice-breaking activities in order for the young people to get to know each other even better.
Later that night, an international evening was held where young people had the chance to sample food and drink from each of the countries involved in the exchange as well listen and take part in national songs and dance. The evening was rounded off with a Hawaiian-themed pool party decorated by young people from Bulmershe Youth Centre. The party was held at Bulmershe Leisure Centre, kindly made available by Woodley Town Council.
Zoe Bridge, aged 15 from Wokingham, said: “I am having a really good time, meeting others from different countries with different points of view. We are learning that underneath we are all the same.”
Sixteen-year-old Matthew Parry from Woodley said: “I have really enjoyed everything so far. I have learnt about different cultures and religions, made new friends and had some great experiences. I would love to take it a stage further and go and meet them in their countries.”
Mohamed Ali, aged 17 from Earley, said: “I have enjoyed every, and I mean every, minute of it. So many people from so many different backgrounds to call a friend now.”
The exchange, organised by Wokingham Borough Council’s youth service and funded by the European Commission, has seen young people from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Turkey, France, the Basque area of Spain and the Wokingham Borough explore the meaning of international citizenship.
The young people were welcomed to the Wokingham Borough by mayor Cllr Annette Drake, champion for youth and leisure Cllr Malcolm Bryant and head of youth service Nigel Shaw. The opening ceremony was a chance for the young people to meet for the first time, share where they were from and their hopes for the week’s event.
The young people arrived on Wednesday (July 25) and six youth centres hosted an individual country for the evening - Twyford Youth Centre hosted Turkey, Wokingham Youth Centre hosted Lebanon, Bulmershe Youth Centre hosted the Basque area of Spain, Woodley Airfield Youth Centre hosted France, Earley Centrepoint Youth Centre hosted Syria and Silverdale Youth Centre hosted Palestine. Members of the council’s youth service’s street work team hosted Jordan.
Following the welcoming ceremony, the young people went to Reading University to settle into their accommodation, which was then followed by ice-breaking activities in order for the young people to get to know each other even better.
Later that night, an international evening was held where young people had the chance to sample food and drink from each of the countries involved in the exchange as well listen and take part in national songs and dance. The evening was rounded off with a Hawaiian-themed pool party decorated by young people from Bulmershe Youth Centre. The party was held at Bulmershe Leisure Centre, kindly made available by Woodley Town Council.
Zoe Bridge, aged 15 from Wokingham, said: “I am having a really good time, meeting others from different countries with different points of view. We are learning that underneath we are all the same.”
Sixteen-year-old Matthew Parry from Woodley said: “I have really enjoyed everything so far. I have learnt about different cultures and religions, made new friends and had some great experiences. I would love to take it a stage further and go and meet them in their countries.”
Mohamed Ali, aged 17 from Earley, said: “I have enjoyed every, and I mean every, minute of it. So many people from so many different backgrounds to call a friend now.”
Wokingham Borough Council
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