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■iseuKunai. ■ ITCCiJV tv.'iiv, : j ■usaasasl.- l.-xu •u nnswr I - *-W ff' -'J %_s? W, J j L 'y //^? X>~Ly(Vvy K V n xk!' x> ZY4V rC7~y u /*■%> sb# <f>Zy iCa 4? ÿ$ï *4" (A A^'Z/ <iVXf Srt SiMfrotUHlI :/ xzx pu III J| 11 Wednesday, November 18, 1998 COMMUNITY CALENDAR • LIFESTYLES • SPORTS • COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENCE • TV LISTINGS (9 by H. Jill Booker Staff Writer A youth exchange program program arrived in Canada recently, and Bowmanvillc is taking center stage. From October 6 to December 15, Bowmanvillc is hosting 16 young students -- 8 from Canada and 8 from Russia -- in the Canada World Youth Russia- Ontario Youth Exchange Program. Canada World Youth is a non-profit organization founded in 1971 to create cross-cultural learning experiences for youth and to provide opportunities for young people to become more involved in international and community community issues. Bowmanvillc was selected as the students' temporary home because it is easier for the the participants participants to learn about the function of a small town, rather than a large one. "The exchange program program aims for community community integration, as well as having the community benefit from the pro gram," Canadian Project Supervisor Jennifer Drummond said. "This is best achieved in a smaller town with a population between 5,000 and 40,000 people." The participants, who range in age from 17 to 20 years, had already spent three months in Russia before coming to Canada for the second portion of their exchange program. Bowmanville was chosen as a temporary home for students because of its small-town appeal The Russian students come from the city of Nizhny Novgorod, formerly formerly known as Gorky. Located 420 km. east of Moscow, the city has a population of. 1:5 million. All the Russian participants participants attend the Nizhny Novgorod Commercial Institute, a higher learning learning facility which includes the departments of Economics, Commerce, Law, Social Science, Physical Education and Foreign Languages. The Canadian participants participants represent a variety of communities across the country, from Whitehorse, in the Yukon, to St. John's, Newfoundland. All of the Canadians are either attending high school or receiving a post-second- ary education. All of the 16 participants participants are taking time out of their schooling to attend the exchange; some are receiving educational educational credits for the program. When they first arrived in Canada on October 6, the students spent four days in Toronto touring the city. For many of the Russian participants, it was their first time in Canada. "We went to Niagara Falls and up the CN AUTUMN CLEAN-UP -- Participants in the Russia-Ontario exchange stand among up recently at the Big Brothers of Clarington office. Work in the community is part of VISITING RUSSIANS -- Russian Project Supervisor Olga Afoncnkova (left) is pictured pictured with activity aide Louise Wright (centre) and Russian participant Anastasiya Drebezgova at the Strathavcn Lifecare Centre. Tower," Russian Project Supervisor Olga Afonenkova said. "We also went to the theatre." After arriving in Bowmanville four days later, the participants were billeted in pairs -- one Russian and one Canadian -- with a host family located in the Bowmanville area. The role of a host family family is to include the participants participants in family activities activities so that the participants participants can learn about life in the community. In return, the host family is provided with the opportunity opportunity to learn both about a different culture and other parts of Canada, and is exposed to a new language and new ideas. The Canada World Youth Russia-Ontario Youth Exchange Program is divided into two parts: volunteer work placements placements and educational activities. One main goal of the program is to give the participants an understanding understanding of what running a small business is like. Through the volunteer work placement program, the participants will learn how decisions are made, what a business and marketing marketing plan look like, where funding comes from, relationships with different levels of government, government, and other aspects of operating a small business. "Our goal is to give the participants all the capabilities they'll need, as well as experience in small business operations," operations," Ms Drummond said. When the participants arrived in Canada, they were presented with a choice of volunteer work placements. One Russian and one Canadian are paired in the placement and they work three days a week. Two pairs of students work in the community services department of the municipality, and one pair was placed in each of Marnwood Lifecare Centre, Four Winds Montessori School, Bethesda House, Strathavcn Lifecare Centre, Edna Thomson Child Care Centre and the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington. "I really love it here," Canadian participant Anjic Chopra, from Guelph, Ontario said. She was placed as a volunteer at the Edna Thomson Child Care Centre. "This is what I'd like to get into, so it's good experience experience for me." The second portion of the exchange program is the educational activities, The participants are split into groups of four--one Canadian male and female and one Russian male and female. In their groups, they discuss subjects subjects like gender roles and' cultural norms. Another timely topic discussed in an educational educational activity was Hallowe'en. One host family threw a Hallowe'en party for the participants where everyone everyone dressed up. "They all had a great time," Drummond said. "They all loved dressing up, especially the Russian participants." The students also par-, ticipate in community development projects where they help out the community in some capacity. One of their projects was cleaning up and raking the leaves at the Big Brothers office in Bowmanville. For the participants, the exchange program is proving to be beneficial not only in gaining valuable valuable work experience, but also in exposing them to a different country and culture. "I like it in Canada," Russian student Anastasiya Drebezgova said. "It's not much different different from Russia." "The people in this community are very united, united, very strong and very polite," Russian Project Supervisor Olga Afonenkova said. "There are a lot of organizations here that are meant to the bags of leaves they raked the exchange program. improve something in the community." She also noted similarities similarities and differences between Canada and Russia. "I like the quilts in the windows," she said. "We had a similar event in Russia a few years ago." "This is a very nice country," she continued. "There are many more conveniences here, like public transit." A photo album of the exchange program was created in Russia, with all the participants signing the album. Pictures are now being taken for the Canadian portion of the exchange which will be added to the existing album. It is hoped that all the participants can meet again sometime in the future. Canada World Youth is currently recruiting for next year's exchange programs. programs. For more information, information, contact the Ontario Regional Office at (416) 596-9702. For the participants, the program exposes them to a different country and culture t J l-M II "V. «.**, Mm "■ lu/H 1£ï> -J «•'i* * t iV. 1 ,.*;^ -V zAr&xiÿ z -k t* * F . * k*. - /a:.t_-, * " . : * I " ART CLASS - Lifecare Centre. HELPING THE CHILDREN -- Canadian participant Anjic Chopra (left) and Russian participant Alexei Serdyukov (right) arc pictured with Britlancy and Jacob Russian participant Anastasiya Drebezgova colours a picture with a resident at the Strathavcn Tompkins at the Edna Thomson Child Care Centre.