IS THERE a world without borders? There is according to famous Norweigian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl or Southern Cross Cultural Exchange.
“Borders, I have never seen one,” Heyerdahl once famously said.
“But I have heard they exist in the minds of some people.”
The Norwegian embarked on his 8000 km Kon-Tiki expedition on a hand-built raft to show that ancient peoples could have travelled to other continents.
When it comes to bridging cultures, SCCE national director Rob Lindsay believes that everyone benefits.
“The whole family, not just the individual, stands to gain from the actions of one youth living half a world away, one young student who whom they will come to know very well and have real connections with,” he said.
The award-winning organisation has successfully linked highly-curious, motivated and adaptable high schools students with their Australian counterparts half a world away.
Come July, youths from Thor Heyerdahl’s home country as well as other Scandinavian and Europe exchange students will arrive to experience a different culture.
They have chosen Australia to discover more about how Australians go about their daily lives as they themselves become Aussie students for a term or two at a high school close to volunteer host families.
Not just 15 to 17-year-old students from Scandinavia but also from Finland, Germany, Italy, Spain and France will be joining their Australian families on their exchange program and get to exchange notes about their different educational systems and lifestyles.
Rob Lindsay said SCCE takes care of the students’ school enrolment and other arrangements including their insurance.
Local families of all sizes who might be available are encouraged to take up a global invitation to connect with another student and their family.
As volunteer participants in the SCCE international cultural exchange program, host families are assisted and supported through the whole process.
They are free to select the student according to age, nationality, interests and preferred duration.
For more details call 1800 500 501 or email scceaust@scce.com.au or visit scce.com.au.
