Hometown Friends,
Global Impact.
The Sister City program provides the opportunity both for cultural, educational, municipal, business, professional and technical exchanges between different cities and for local community development and volunteer action by motivating and empowering private citizens, municipal officials and business leaders to conduct long-term programs of mutual benefit.
Bakersfield Sister Cities
Bakersfield Sister City is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that serves as Bakersfield’s link to the international community and especially to the governments and citizens of Bakersfield’s six Sister Cities.
Select a stamp to learn more.
Bucheon International Youth Homestay Exchange Program
Seeking 8 Students, Ages 13-17
July 20–27, 2027
Cost: Airfare + Spending money
All other transportation, accommodations, meals, etc. will be provided by your hosts and the city of Bucheon. Applications are being accepted now. Space is limited.
Ambassadors of Peace : Bucheon, South Korea
베이커스필드
Contact Mr. Evan Sproul to apply or for more information about this wonderful opportunity.
By Phone: 661-203-2473
By E-mail: emsproul@hotmail.com
Bakersfield Sister City Project Corporation · Cultural exchange
Open your home to the Wakayama Children’s Choir
This March, help welcome 25 young choir members from Japan to Bakersfield. We’re looking for local families to host one or two students for three nights and share a memorable cultural experience.
Application deadline: Friday, December 4, 2026. Early applicants receive first consideration and a free thank-you gift from Sister City.
A special opportunity
A brief visit. A lasting connection.
The internationally acclaimed Wakayama Children’s Choir will visit Bakersfield in March 2027. The visit is made possible by families who share their homes and everyday lives with the young visitors.
Why become a host?
Hosting is an opportunity to experience Japanese culture firsthand, share your own family's traditions, and build international friendships. Previous host families have found it wonderfully rewarding. Some connections have endured for years, even across generations.
Who will stay with you?
Families may host one or two students. All visiting students speak some English. Where possible, younger students are paired rather than placed alone so that both the students and their hosts feel more comfortable.
Why we need confirmations in December: Choir president Mr. Hiroyoshi Akedo has asked organizers to confirm that enough host families are available by December so the group can make its airline reservations. The visit depends on the generosity of local hosts.
What the students will experience
The Bakersfield program
The choir will have a full schedule of performances, local visits and activities during its stay.
Choir performances
- Daytime concert: a performance at a Bakersfield school, with the school still to be determined.
- Evening concert: a performance for which the date, time and location are still being finalized. The preliminary information references a 7:00 p.m. start; final timing will be confirmed.
- Dress rehearsal: the students will attend a scheduled concert rehearsal. Organizers will provide dinner afterward.
Exploring Bakersfield
Students will visit the Mayor’s Office, City Hall and other locations around Bakersfield. Program organizers will arrange transportation between group activities.
Important information for hosts
Your role as a host family
Host families provide a welcoming home and help students arrive at and return from their daily activities. The choir's schedule is tight, so timely transportation is essential.
Host families are responsible for
- Morning: dropping students off at the designated meeting point each day.
- Afternoon: collecting students at the meeting point at approximately 4:00 p.m.
- Concert evening: picking students up after the evening performance. The preliminary concert start time is 7:00 p.m.; pickup timing will be confirmed.
- Following the schedule: making sure drop-offs and pickups occur on time.
Program organizers will provide
- Transportation to the students' organized activities around Bakersfield.
- Transportation to the concert dress rehearsal.
- Dinner for students following the dress rehearsal.
- A designated daily meeting point and schedule for host-family pickups and drop-offs.
Time to enjoy with your visiting students
Students will be free to spend time with their host families on Tuesday evening, March 16, and either Wednesday evening, March 17, or Thursday evening, March 18.
Because this is a short visit, there will be no all-family group dinner. That leaves more of the students' available free time for their individual host families.
Beyond the homestay
The choir’s journey
The Bakersfield stay is part of a broader California visit.
Before Bakersfield · Los Angeles area
The students will visit popular sightseeing destinations, including Disneyland, Santa Monica and other attractions.
March 16–19 · Bakersfield
The students will stay with host families and participate in concerts, civic visits and organized local activities.
Friday, March 19 · Oakland
The choir will leave Bakersfield by Amtrak for Oakland, where the students will perform with a local choir.
Get involved
How to apply to host
Applications are due Friday, December 4, 2026. Families are encouraged to respond as soon as possible. Those who apply first will receive first consideration and a free thank-you gift from Sister City, as announced in the recruitment flyer.
Request an application
Contact Ms. Bethany Fleisher by phone or email. She will provide the host family application.
Complete and return it
Submit your completed application as soon as possible, no later than December 4. Return it to one of the addresses listed on the application or send it by email.
Watch for host selection
If selected, your family will be contacted by Friday, February 12, 2027, with the time and location of a host orientation meeting.
What happens after selection?
Once organizers have the final list of Japanese students, they will match students with host families and provide their names and contact information. At orientation, hosts will learn what to expect, review responsibilities and the group schedule, hear more definite plans for activities, and have an opportunity to ask questions.
Applications & questions
Interested in hosting?
Contact the host family coordinator to request an application or learn more about the exchange.
Phone: (209) 518-5235
Email: nemuri.hime@gmail.com
Organizing organization
Bakersfield Sister City Project Corporation
Office of the Mayor
1600 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
General email:
info.bscpc@gmail.com
The completed application must be submitted according to the return instructions supplied with the application.
Event times, venue details, and host-family transportation instructions are subject to confirmation by the program organizers.
Upcoming Events
Donations made to Bakersfield Sister City are tax deductible.
