Youth exchange program builds global friendships in Saskatchewan

This year, 22 international students from 12 countries took part. They stayed with host families throughout Saskatchewan, from Melfort to Lloydminster and communities in between.

The group visited Jackfish Lake in Meota for a beach day, barbecue and boat rides, stopped in Martensville for hamburgers, learned how ice cream is made at a creamery, and later visited Onion Lake Cree Nation Powwow and Lloydminster’s Bud Miller Park.

(Image Credit: Claire Oster/ submitted)

The youth also spent time giving back. In North Battleford, some painted a fence while others helped make baskets at the food bank.

Oster said organizers wanted participants to experience what makes Saskatchewan memorable, from its prairie landscape to its communities, while keeping the focus on fun and safety.

“We really just try to give them local things that makes Saskatchewan great,” he said. “Obviously, you get the wonderful prairies and the green and the canola crops and the flax crops, the trees and the water and that kind of stuff. So you want to show them the beauty of Saskatchewan.”

(Image Credit: Claire Oster/ submitted)

For Oster, the strongest memories came from the relationships formed along the way. He said many participants commented on how welcoming people were and valued the friendships they made, including one student from Finland who stayed with his family.

“You realize that some of the things that are going on in the world and stuff don’t matter as much when you start to get other people’s perspective and you realize that there’s good people everywhere,” Oster said.

Next year, the camp is expected to be hosted in South Dakota, and organizers will spend the coming year looking for opportunities to send local youth on exchanges abroad.

(Image Credit: Darryl Oster/ submitted)

“We’re going to look at seeing if there’s any local kids that want that experience to go to another country and experience another country for two, three weeks,” he said. “It’s building momentum again of what is possible there.”

Oster hopes more Saskatchewan youth will take advantage of the opportunity in the years ahead, saying the exchange offers experiences and friendships that can last well beyond a single summer.

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Alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com

by Alyssa Rudolph

Youth exchange program builds global friendships in Saskatchewan

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