Three decades of student exchange programs between Pforzheim and Vicenza
In a heartwarming display of cultural exchange and educational collaboration, the cities of Pforzheim, Germany, and Vicenza, Italy, celebrated the 30th anniversary of their student exchange programme. The event took place at the New Town Hall on Monday, November 13.
For the past week, Kepler-Gymnasium in Pforzheim has been hosting 14 Italian students from their partner school in Vicenza. The purpose of this exchange is to learn about each other's languages and develop an understanding of cultural and regional peculiarities.
During their stay, the Italian students have been participating in lessons and extracurricular activities alongside their exchange partners. Ada Deflorio, an Italian teacher, confirmed the students' great interest in the mutual encounters. Ms. Deflorio has been organising the annual exchange for many years.
The student exchange programme between Pforzheim and Vicenza has been enlivening the city partnership for three decades. Typical activities might include student visits, workshops, joint cultural programs, and official ceremonies involving city or educational representatives. Reflections on the history of the exchange programme are also an essential part of the anniversary celebrations.
Future plans for such long-standing exchanges often focus on expanding cooperation into new fields like digital collaboration, sustainability projects, or additional international partnerships. However, precise and official details about these future plans can be found on the websites or press releases of the city councils of Pforzheim or Vicenza, their educational institutions, or cultural exchange organisations.
Mayor Frank Fillbrunn presented certificates to Heike Reifurth, the principal of Kepler-Gymnasium, and teachers from the Italian partner school. Mr. Fillbrunn praised the committed and motivated engagement of the teachers in the student exchange programme.
The Italian city of Vicenza is also known as "the gold city of Italy" due to its jewelry industry. The return visit to Vicenza is planned for spring 2024, providing an opportunity for the young people to deepen their friendships and further explore the rich cultural exchange between the two cities.
In the ongoing exchange programme, students from Kepler-Gymnasium in Pforzheim and their Italian counterparts from Vicenza are not only learning each other's languages but also delving into the realms of lifestyle and differences in education-and-self-development. As the event celebrated its 30th anniversary, general-news discussions on the history and future goals of the exchange programme were also part of the celebrations.
