Cebu youths explore Europe

Twelve youth delegates and three adult leaders from the Young Minds on Xplore (YMX) Season 3 program of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. were sent for an exchange visit to the cities of Haarlemmermeer in the Netherlands and Kortrijk in Belgium.

The visit from April 14 to May 6 was part of the sister-city relationship between Cebu City and the cities of Haarlemmermeer and Kortrijk.

For three weeks, the delegates stayed with their Dutch and Belgian host families to better understand their culture. They also visited various organizations, heritage sites and government institutions, such the Hague, Netherland’s seat of government and the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium, St. Michiels Church, Oxfam Wereldwinkel Fair Trade, Haaberkrats, AZ Groeninge Hospital, Groep Ubuntu and Acht Kanter.

The delegates were also able to attend the Sunday Lowland Games organized by the City of Kortrijk in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.

Kortrijk City Deputy Mayor Alain Cnudde welcomed them and briefed them about the sister-city relationship between Cebu City and Kortrijk.

In the Netherlands, the delegates paid a courtesy visit to Haarlemmermeer mayor and visited the city’s Meerlanden sanitary landfill, the Cruquiushoeue Stable Center, Spaarne Hospital and other educational institutions.

The delegates also toured the Dutch capital city of Amsterdam and the Jewish historical museum and took part in the Dutch national holiday in celebration of Queen Beatrix’s birthday.

Upon their arrival in Cebu, the delegates started working on projects that support the I Am A Hero and Mega Cebu Project of the foundation. They also shared what they learned in Europe with Sangguniang Kabataan officials, public school teachers and students and other student organizations in Cebu City.  They are also planning to put up a youth center.

For more information about Young Minds Academy, contact Mel at 418-7234 local 110 or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph.