International Relations Council of Riverside

The International Relations Council (IRC) of Riverside  has a long history dedicated to creating harmonious partnerships between the USA and foreign cities to increase global understanding. What initially began as a Sister City relationship with Sendai Japan in 1957 has grown in the last fifty-five years to now include the following cities:

Sendai, Japan (1957)

Cuatula, Mexico (1968)

Ensenada, Mexico (1976)

Jiangmen, China (1997)

Gangnam-gu, Korea (1999)

Hyderabad, India (2000)

Obuasi, Ghana (2008)

Erlangen, Germany (2011)

Each individual Riverside Sister City is supported by a committee of interested volunteers who meet regularly to develop the relationship and programs that are of mutual benefit.

The IRC also  works with major national and international organizations to help provide people-to-people diplomacy for international guests who are visiting Riverside and the Inland Empire region of Southern California. 

The activities of the IRC are funded through memberships, private donations, NCIV (National Council for International Visitors) grants and fundraisers.  

IRC activities now include:

Cultural exchanges (youth and senior) home hospitality conferences

professional meetings and programs.

Rationale for Student Exchanges

Student exchange is one of the most effective methods to actualize the goals of Sister City International.  The International Youth Academy initiative is designed to increase the number of student exchange opportunities for all students in Riverside.  

Riverside has numerous examples of successful student exchanges.  North high school has sent the entire band and baseball team of our sister cities in China and Japan.  Mexico has enjoyed award-winning success for their exchanges of art works between youth from Cuatla and Ensenada.  The Erlangen committee facilitated the exchange of 20 students to Germany for a month this past summer.  The Obuasi sister city will be receiving three students and one teacher for its pilot program and will include a component of community service.

Though Riverside has enjoyed many exchanges over the years, only a limited number of students can participate.  By creating a student exchange fund, we will be able to offer scholarships to qualified students who would not be able to afford the travel expenses without our support.  According to Ann Stock, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, “all sectors of American society and government are focused on the profound challenge of finding common ground....exchanges are the key element.  In exchanges, we rely on and engage our single greatest asset-the American citizen”. 

Please consider donating to our non-profit whose mission is to bring  together citizens to promote cultural and educational bonds and global development. 

No gift is too small.