Fountain Hills Sister Cities organization and the City of Fountain Hills hosted the 33rd Arizona State Sister Cities Conference in the Community Center.
77 representatives from 12 Arizona Sister Cities gathered Saturday, April 30, to foster friendly relationships with 51 global communities.
Guest Speakers
Fountain Hills Mayor Ginny Dickey talked about a childhood filled with the sights and sounds of varying cultures. “Being exposed to a variety of rich experiences was a gift to be embraced and valued, and Sister Cities offers the same kind of opportunity for those willing to listen and grow,” she said.
Arizona State University student Michal Suchanek explained that his involvement in Sister Cities activities molded his life and determined his career path. After student exchange visits to Zamosc and Dierdorf, he is pursuing a diplomatic career.
Project C.U.R.E. board member Marcus Newton said his organization is sending medical supplies and meals nearly daily to Ukraine. It is the world’s largest distributor of donated medical equipment and supplies to resource-limited communities around the world.
Desert Mountain High School teacher Laura Winston called for donated school supplies for Poland and Ukraine.
Several speakers talked about the Ukraine refugee priority. Diana Babii, 22, who traveled from her native Ukraine last November to visit her previous host family in Florence, spoke about the urgency to provide humanitarian and financial aid.
Dr. Victor Boluarte Medina, mayor of Cusco, Peru, a Sister City of Tempe for 10 years, talked about the financial recovery underway in his hometown after COVID wiped out tourism.
Fund Raising
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine put a focus on providing humanitarian and financial assistance to Ukrainian refugees in Zamosc, Poland, a Sister City of Fountain Hills one hour from the Ukraine border. The state board of directors pledged $3,000 to the Zamosc/Ukraine fund.
A silent auction of gift baskets raised $1,290 for Ukraine relief and $50 for the high school backpack project. In addition, two-day PayPal donations raised $600, said Fountain Hills Sister Cities President Christine Colley.
Fountain Hills Sister Cities announced that it had sent (to date) $30,000 to Zamosc to assist with that city’s humanitarian relief efforts for the Ukrainian refugee issues it has faced.
Fountain Hills Sister Cities also announced it had sent $5,000 to Ataco, where the COVID pandemic caused hardship for the population in the coffee-producing country.
Summary
Overall the conference was a resounding success. FHSC and the City of Fountain Hills looks forward to continued participation in Arizona Sister Cities efforts.
