The Raleigh Sister Cities Association may not earn students college credits, but the connections and experiences learned will be beneficial in the long run.
According to Dave Kaber, professor and co-director of RSCA, international art displays from Compiegne in Raleigh, international student photography exchange exhibitions between Raleigh and Rostock, Raleigh secondary school student exchanges to all sister cities, local soccer team exchanges between Raleigh and Rostock, student choir visits and local university student summer exchange programs are among some of the events that students can look forward to by joining the organization.
RSCA is a nonprofit organization that seeks to promote friendship and understanding between the people of Raleigh and its sister cities. Raleigh currently has four sister cities, including: Kingston Upon Hull, England, Compiegne, France, Rostock, Germany, and Xiangfan, China.
According to the sister cities website, the program is designed to “enable citizens of Raleigh and its Sister Cities to exchange ideas and experiences in the areas of education, culture, the arts, and economics, and to promote exchanges between the cities.”
The organization, founded in 1950s under President Eisenhower, partnered with Raleigh in 1986.
Kaber explained the importance of the organization and its mission to establish and maintain relationships between the city of Raleigh and other international cities.
“The long-term goal of the association is to foster new international relationships for the City of Raleigh in terms of culture, education and commerce,” Kaber said. “In the near-term, we are currently developing education and industry connections with the new sister city of Xiangfan, China.”
Association membership is open to everyone. The participation from our University provides a way to connect academically with international countries.
Kaber explained that there are some requirements for membership, but that members will maintain connections with international education and business partners in the sister cities, as well as city and state government officials.
“Members of the association are asked to participate in existing sister subcommittees and to participate in international organization events,” Kaber said. “Members are also involved in committees for fundraising for the association, and evaluating new sister city applicants.”
For more information on the RSCA and details on becoming a member are available through the association’s website visit https://raleighsistercities.org .