What Is International School To School Experience?
The International School to School Experience (ISSE) Program is a unique international program for primary schools that provides for an exchange of thoughts and ideas through face to face contact with children from other countries around the world. It is non-profit, non-political, and non-religious in nature. The program gives all primary school children the opportunity to experience and understand other cultures on a first-hand basis. It is an innovative approach for primary schools that realise the importance of international experience in modern primary education.
The objective of the ISSE Program is to allow primary school students to interact with and learn from other children of the world, thereby fostering peace and understanding on a global basis.
Selections
The selection of children should be based upon factors other than ability to pay travel expenses, such as :
Interest in learning about new cultures and becoming friends with children of other cultures.
Willingness to communicate their experiences with their school when they return.
Sufficient independence and emotional maturity.
Age of eleven at departure time (should be recommended).
Expenses
All living expenses of the visiting children and adult are paid by their host families. Parents of the visiting children provide passports, travel expenses, clothing and spending money. ISSE is both an enriching and attainable opportunity.
Why Elementary Schools ?
The eleven or twelve year old is mature enough to benefit from international experience, yet young enough to be relatively free from prejudice.
The full power of the eleven-year-old 'ambassador' should not be under-estimated. Children of this age are not trying to 'find themselves'. They know who they are and can be good representatives of their country. These children are young enough to need adults but old enough to build their own relationships.
There is no generation gap as children of this age are friendly with both children and adults.
