Japanese youth have been staying with local families as part of the LABO/4-H program that brings the youth to the United States each summer. The program has been running for the past fifty years, and Ohio is one of the key states in this program. A group of 80 students and 20 chaperones arrived in Columbus on July 22 and, after an orientation program, were bused to anxious families around the state for a chance to live with a 'real American family' and improve their English. They will be here until August 18, returning to Columbus for a wrapup and then back to their families just in time for the start of school.
Local coordinators for the program are Laura DePizzo of Cortland who handles Trumbull County and Gary Reel of Austintown who deals with Mahoning County. Students are matched by age and gender, and families are encouraged to lead a very normal lifestyle. Families often attend sporting events, do camping, visit zoos and parks, and help with shopping during this time. The only cost to the family is food and lodging.
The local families held a midpoint picnic on Wednesday, Aug. 6 at the Trumbull County Extension Office in Cortland. The Japanese youth enjoyed seeing each other again after several weeks apart, and good food and games were shared by all.