Katie Andrews, '04

"Not self but others" this is the motto that Ferrum College holds dear to its heart. Service can be seen throughout the campus community in the clubs, in the classes, in its very essence. When one goes overseas to study abroad it is intended that they study, and absorb the culture. Studying abroad can be impersonal when a program outside the college campus is coordinating the program. Yet, when going oversees why should Ferrum College's motto change? It doesn't in the case of the Sister City Program.

One must understand that the Sister City Program does much more then just foreign exchanges. Currently Sister Cities International works with paring American cities to cities abroad and currently works with more than 2,100 communities in 121 countries around the world. Yet even with so many parings this nonprofit organization is able to engage in many different and diverse activities. Perhaps the best way to begin talking about the unique relationship is to pick an example and follow its history.

The Sister City partnership between Pskov and Roanoke began in 1992. A year later, two students from Ferrum College spent three months in Pskov, Russia teaching English at the Pskov Pedagogical Institute. Since then Ferrum College, Roanoke, and Pskov have formed an invaluable bond that has only grown. A month into the initial foreign exchange a delegation from Roanoke went to Pskov with much needed medical supplies for the local hospital, and visited various local area schools. A delegation and a dance group from Roanoke participated in the annual Pskov City celebration. Former mayor, David Bowers of Roanoke and his wife were part of the official delegation, which delivered medical supplies to the hospitals of Pskov. Most members of the delegation and dance troupe stayed with local families. Yet this too was only the beginning.

Many more Ferrum and Roanoke College students have since traveled abroad to teach English to Russian students. Also through the Sister Cities Program students have helped to renovate the ancient Snyatagorsk convent, delivered medical supplies to local area hospitals, delivered toys, books, and other goodies to the local orphanages. Through the Sister Cities Program Ferrum College and the Pskov Pedagogical Institute set up a foreign exchange where one student from Pskov per semester studies at Ferrum College. This continues to provide a wonderful opportunity for student at Ferrum College to learn about Russia and study Russian from a native.

In August of 2001 Matt Dawson, a Ferrum College May 2001 graduate in Political Science and Russian, was named a recipient of the prestigious USA/Russia Young Leaders Fellowship in Public Policy. Though this program Matt studied at the Pedagogical Institute, volunteered at area orphanages, and acted as a liaison for humanitarian aid provided to the orphanages and special schools of Pskov. This full year program allowed for the groundwork to be laid for the Roanoke Sister City sponsored soup kitchen in Pskov in the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Women of the church fed twenty-five children per day and our organization sent $300 per month to Pskov for the support of this endeavor. Also Charlie Crabtree went to Russia in the summer of 2002 to deliver humanitarian aid. With help from Matt Dawson, Charlie made purchases ranging from soap and toothpaste to shoes, bicycles and skis for orphanages in the Pskov Oblast from funds donated by the Ferrum College Russian Club and the Roanoke Sister Cities Program

Yet, this is only one example of what has been done abroad by the Sister Cities Program. Unlike some of the other organizations, students study, and they help out the area around them. Yet, it is not just students it is teachers, doctors, mayors, and many others who get involved. Telling the story of the Roanoke Sister City program allows one to understand the scope and dynamics of the program. Yet, this is still not the end of the story.

In the next episode, I will focus on Mina Ayob, a Ferrum College student from Afghanistan, who is the beneficiary of the Sister Cities Program