Community Corner

Hermosa Kiwanis Club Hosts Picnic for Sister City Teenagers

Fourteen students from Loreto, Mexico were treated to a picnic lunch in Valley Park by the Kiwanis Club of Hermosa Beach recently.

The teenagers, part of a 39-year-old cultural exchange program with Hermosa Beach's sister city, Loreto, were hosted during their U.S. visit by 14 students and their families in Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach, stated Jane Walker of the Kiwanis. The exchange program is sponsored by the Hermosa Beach Sister City Association.

Guests feasted on a buffet of hot dogs, hamburgers, assorted salads, fruit, cupcakes and cookies and played soccer and piñata.

"It’s so nice to see the kids having such a great time,"stated George Barks, HBSCA student exchange director and vice president. "HBSCA is lucky to have so much support from the Kiwanians." 

"The week was a total success as the Loreto students learned our way of life and culture here in Southern California and had a lot of fun bonding with our South Bay students," stated Barks. "That is the mission of sister cities, 'People to People in the form of Citizen Diplomats.'" 

The picnic marks the end of a week that included trips to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, The Grove, The Farmers Market, Venice Beach, Disneyland, a hike to the Hollywood Sign and a tour of Univision. The week ended with a farewell dinner at Parras Middle School in Redondo Beach.


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