Latest news with #SisterCitiesInternational
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Gisborne student duo's song wins Sister Cities international award
'This year's theme highlights the power of friendship to foster understanding, collaboration and peace across borders,' Sister Cities International said in a statement. The competition attracted 340 competitors from 10 countries, including Australia, Japan, the United States, China and Russia. Savanah and Nina's winning song was called Take My Hand and was written by both of them two years ago. 'With this competition, the brief was friendship and relationships, so we had a song already written that just perfectly fit the criteria,' Savanah said. 'All we had to do was write what the song meant to us, so we've got a little blurb of what the song means to us, and I guess that was good enough to win the competition. 'We wrote it together, pretty much based on relationships in general, not just our one specifically. 'Our song is all about finding that small group of friends who you deeply connect with, where you don't feel the need to act like someone else around and are your true self,' part of their entry reads. 'This song is all about whakawhanaungatanga, which is strengthening relationships and connections by talking about personal experiences, all about creating a deep bond.' Nina plays the drums, while Savanah plays guitar and violin. The pair say they have been friends since Year 4. Nina was classically trained in piano from a young age before stopping in Y8 and taking up the drums in Y9. Savanah has played guitar for five years and violin for about nine years. Savanah Baty and Nina Botting have been friends since Year 4 in school, for nine years. Photo / James Pocock Nina has applied to study at the University of Otago for a biomedical science degree in reproduction, genetics and development. Savanah wants to study psychology at Victoria University of Wellington after a gap year. Both prefer to keep their musical passion as a hobby rather than a career. 'Music is a passion, something we love,' Savanah said. 'And honestly, if that becomes a job, I don't know if it would mix well ... being stressed out, I don't know what would happen. 'I'm worried I would get sick of it and would never do it as a thing I love to do anymore and more of a thing I have to do for work,' Nina said. Savanah is interested in joining an adult orchestra, while Nina wants to write more songs in the future. 'I am part of the combined schools orchestra, and that is fun, but I would like to do a more advanced group,' Savanah said. 'I think that would be cool, especially if I go to uni and join a music group there.' 'I am going to try and get into a band next year and try and do some gigs or something,' Nina said. 'I find it quite relaxing to write songs, even though I am not the best at it. Time will tell.' Their prize for winning was US$1000 (NZ$1690). As for what they will do with the money, the girls have some ideas. 'If this paycheck comes in soon, next week I am going to Rarotonga, so I will spend it there,' Savanah said. Nina said: 'I'm going to put it all towards a new computer for school [university] next year, even with how badly I don't want to do that - I want to buy clothes, make-up ... nope.' Girls' High music teacher Anna Marie Fenn said she was 'really happy' that Gisborne District Sister Cities secretary Jan Calder had encouraged the school to get involved. 'It was just really nice to have [Nina and Savanah's] work recognised as being something that was really good internationally,' Fenn said. Calder said she began trying to get Gisborne schools involved in YAAS a few years ago. Last year, GGHS students Nikita Schwass and Jasmine Reynolds placed. 'We've hit with a bombshell this year,' Calder said. 'I remember thinking 'Oh, if we could win this ...', not thinking we had such a good chance as well, which was cool.'
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Talks aim to bring city's Ukraine link closer
A partnership between York and the Ukrainian city of Lviv has moved a step closer, following calls to complete a process which first got under way three years ago. In April 2022, two months after Russia invaded Ukraine, councillors in York approved the adoption of Lviv in western Ukraine as a "sister city". But at a recent meeting, delays in implementing the link between the two cities was branded by opposition councillors as an "embarrassing failure". However, it has since been confirmed that talks between City of York Council's Labour leader Claire Douglas and Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv, were due to be held, though the date had yet to be decided. The completion of the "sisterhood" process would see both cities work together on culture, education, business and other areas, according to the Sister Cities International organisation. Ukrainian embassy officials were understood to have met Douglas, as well as Katie Lomas, City of York Council's Labour finance and human rights spokesperson, earlier in April. Douglas said she now looked forward to speaking to Lviv's mayor about how the two cities could work closer in the future. "Our immediate focus is on continuing to demonstrate our solidarity with Ukraine," she explained. "This includes offering practical support for our Ukrainian guests here in York, extending our heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the people of Ukraine - both those here in York, who are so far from their loved ones, and those in Ukraine who are bravely coping with the most unimaginable hardships." According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Lib Dem councillor Chris Cullwick had welcomed movement on the link between York and the Ukrainian city. He said his party had "been pushing for stronger ties with Lviv since the full-scale invasion began", including tabling the original motion back in 2022 calling for a "formal sisterhood" between the two cities. "We've repeatedly urged the administration to follow through, so it's good to see our efforts starting to bear fruit. We now want to see this momentum continue," Cullwick added. Lviv has a population of just over 700,000 people and is situated about 70 miles (112km) away from the Polish border. Its centre is a Unesco World Heritage Site and, like York, Lviv is designated a Unesco Creative City, recognised for its literary culture. Since 2022, 416 Ukrainians have arrived and settled in York through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Row over 'embarrassing' delay to Ukraine link-up City of York Council Sister Cities International Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Talks aim to bring York 'sisterhood' link with Lviv closer
A partnership between York and the Ukrainian city of Lviv has moved a step closer, following calls to complete a process which first got under way three years April 2022, two months after Russia invaded Ukraine, councillors in York approved the adoption of Lviv in western Ukraine as a "sister city".But at a recent meeting, delays in implementing the link between the two cities was branded by opposition councillors as an "embarrassing failure".However, it has since been confirmed that talks between City of York Council's Labour leader Claire Douglas and Andriy Sadovyi, the mayor of Lviv, were due to be held, though the date had yet to be decided. The completion of the "sisterhood" process would see both cities work together on culture, education, business and other areas, according to the Sister Cities International organisation. Ukrainian embassy officials were understood to have met Douglas, as well as Katie Lomas, City of York Council's Labour finance and human rights spokesperson, earlier in said she now looked forward to speaking to Lviv's mayor about how the two cities could work closer in the future."Our immediate focus is on continuing to demonstrate our solidarity with Ukraine," she explained."This includes offering practical support for our Ukrainian guests here in York, extending our heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the people of Ukraine - both those here in York, who are so far from their loved ones, and those in Ukraine who are bravely coping with the most unimaginable hardships." 'Stronger ties' According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Lib Dem councillor Chris Cullwick had welcomed movement on the link between York and the Ukrainian said his party had "been pushing for stronger ties with Lviv since the full-scale invasion began", including tabling the original motion back in 2022 calling for a "formal sisterhood" between the two cities."We've repeatedly urged the administration to follow through, so it's good to see our efforts starting to bear fruit. We now want to see this momentum continue," Cullwick has a population of just over 700,000 people and is situated about 70 miles (112km) away from the Polish centre is a Unesco World Heritage Site and, like York, Lviv is designated a Unesco Creative City, recognised for its literary 2022, 416 Ukrainians have arrived and settled in York through the Homes for Ukraine scheme. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Glendale revitalizes Sister City Program to grow international relationships
The city of Glendale has launched a revitalized version of their Sister City Program. The commitment will help in 'building global relationships that enrich [the] community through cultural, educational and economic exchange,' city officials said in a media release issued Tuesday. To celebrate the program being refreshed, Glendale held their inaugural Under One Sky event on March 26, which brought community members, international delegates and civic leaders together to honor the community's global partnerships as well as introduce the mission and opportunities of the sister cities program. Bear roaming Burbank neighborhood for over a week has residents on edge 'Glendale is proud to be one of the most diverse cities in California,' said Glendale City Councilmember Elen Asatryan, who helped spearhead the relaunching of the sister cities program. 'Through the revitalized program, we are strengthening international partnerships and opening new pathways for our city, residents and businesses to engage in cultural and economic exchange opportunities.' 'This initiative is more than symbolic,' added Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian. 'It's a hands-on way for our community to share ideas and culture across borders.' Currently, Glendale has 10 sister cities, all of which were chosen based on similarities between locales, including size, economics, manufacturing, entertainment options and more: Higashiosaka, Japan Rosarito, Mexico Kapan and Gyumri, Armenia Goseong, Gimpo, and Boeun-gun, South Korea Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines Martuni, Artsakh (archived) Los Angeles, for comparison, has 25 sister cities, including Lusaka, Zambia; Tehran, Iran and Split, Croatia. It has also been sister cities with Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, since 2007. Victim recounts frightful carjacking at Los Angeles County car wash Higashiosaka was Glendale's first sister city, receiving the designation in 1960, which is just four years after President Dwight D. Eisenhower founded Sister Cities International, a network of tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers who work in more than 140 countries. Click here to sign up for updates on cultural exchanges, events and opportunities to connect with Glendale's sister cities' community members. For more information, call 818-548-4844 (option 1) or email SisterCity@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
