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Updated: Sep 9, 2021
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The 2016 Goodwill Mission marks the 48th anniversary of the Michigan-Shiga Sister State relationship and the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Birmingham and Ritto. The City of Birmingham is seeking host families Aug.25-29, 2016, for a unique cultural experience as part of its sister city relationship with the City of Ritto in Japan’s Shiga Prefecture. Since 1976, the City of Birmingham and Ritto have enjoyed this relationship as part of the larger Sister State program between Michigan and Shiga. A central part of this program is the annual Goodwill Mission, which promotes cultural understanding and affords participants from both countries the opportunity to build life-long friendships. During the 2016 Goodwill Mission, delegates from Shiga will visit Michigan and stay with local host families from August 25 - 29. The 2016 hosting schedule will involve travel to Lansing to pickup your guest on Thursday, August 25, hosting for 4 days and then travel back to Lansing on Monday, August 29, for their farewell party.
Those interested in volunteering to host a delegate from Japan may contact Joellen Haines at (248) 530-1807 or email at: jhaines@bhamgov.org. The deadline for submitting interest to be a host is May 1, 2016.