December, 2024
Greetings!
The year 2024 was packed with great events and programs for Sebastopol World Friends! Once again, we are excited to share the year at a glance and our plans for 2025 with our community.
Chyhyryn Program
The year started with hosting a delegation of six Ukrainian women (including two from Chyhyryn!) through the Congressional Open World Program. Over a hundred community members turned out to hear them speak of their experiences meeting with organizations throughout Sonoma County. We are expecting another Open World delegation in November 2025.
Throughout 2024, we also continued fundraising for our friends in Chyhyryn, focusing our efforts on rehabilitating a college dormitory that is housing refugees from the war zone. Our generous donors provided over $20,000 for roof repairs that were completed in September. Now that the building is watertight, in 2025 we will be concentrating on gutting and restoring the previously uninhabitable upper floors of the building, to provide housing for up to 150 more people. More on this project will be announced soon!
Takeo Program
We are so happy to have resumed our biannual middle school exchange cycle this year! In March 2024, we hosted a delegation of 18 students, two chaperones, and three adult delegates from Takeo. The guests, the Sebastopol student ambassadors and their families all had life changing experiences and built deep friendships with each other.
In March 2025, a delegation of Sebastopol student ambassadors and adult delegates will travel to Takeo. During the visit, we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Takeo and Sebastopol!
Become a Member of SWF Today
SWF depends on Membership donations to keep our organization thriving. Membership dues are completely tax deductible. SWF members receive member only invitations to the Welcome Party for Siste r City and Open World visitors. Members also have priority for hosting and event volunteer opportunities. Business Members will be promoted at all SWF Events and on the SWF Website, as well as receive 2 Free tickets to our Annual Sister City Friendship Dinner and Celebration.
Our Annual Event: Friendship Celebration – Where Sushi Meets Borshch
In April 2024, our annual community Friendship Celebration came home to the Enmanji Temple. The guests enjoyed sushi and borsch and live music by Sonoma County Taiko and the Bezhenar Sisters.
2025 Friendship Dinner – Where Sushi Meets Borshch will be back on 1/25/2025
Our 2025 Friendship Dinner will be on January 25 at 5:30pm at Enmanji Temple! We will be returning to our pre-pandemic format, with additional dishes and treats to complement our famous sushi rolls and borsch, to make it a dinner once again. Register here.
Ambassador Scholarship Circle
Our Ambassador Scholarship Circle (ASC) has doubled since it was established in 2019. Thanks to the generous ASC donors, we are able to offer more scholarships to our student ambassadors traveling to Takeo in 2025. This year, ASC donors were treated to an empanadas and wine pairing at the annual donor appreciation dinner. We also heard from a student ambassador in the current program going to Japan in 2025, and a report by Owen Foley (2019-2023 student ambassador) about his Analy High School Zen Garden and Mural Project. To learn more about ASC, please visit our website.
…and THANK YOU!
All of these accomplishments would not have been possible without YOUR support. We are grateful for you and hope you continue to support us by being a SWF member. Together, we build World Peace, One Friend at a Time!
In Peace, Sebastopol World Friends Board of Directors
