SMYCE is a non-profit 501c(3) and formed primarily to provide educational outreach opportunities by joining together different cultures from different countries through an international partnership. This opportunity offers a middle school age child the opportunity to directly experience life, cultural similarities, and differences in a different country which is something that TV, internet, or tex
tbooks just cannot offer. Often times, this experience broadens their perspective regarding cultural similarities and differences. For many of these children this is their first time out of their country and away from their immediate family. SMYCE provides the unique experience of hosting international students primarily from Milan, Italy. In addition to hosting Italian students, the exchange is reciprocated when students from St. Mary’s County then travel to Milan, Italy. The children actively engage in a welcoming school environment and actively spend time with their "new" host family outside of the school day. The host family is the key factor in showing their international guest what life is like in their country. The host family is the tour guide outside of the school day and each child sees and experiences more in ten days than any guided tour excursion and staying in a hotel will ever offer. They are immersed in the Italian culture and attend school daily by pairing with their “Italian brother” or “Italian sister” for 10 days. Providing this opportunity does presents a financial burden but mostly in the form of airfare cost. For some deserving students, their financial situation could prevent the opportunity to participate. Your generous donation by participating in this fun football pool will allow SMYCE to assist many deserving students with an opportunity of traveling to Italy. Funds will also help with incurred cost when Italian students arrive in St. Mary’s County. Each trip is unique (currently entering 8th year) because the relationship that often develops between families goes beyond just a sight-seeing, cultural excursion, and learning trip for the child. With today’s technology, many global friendships continue to grow well beyond the 10 day experience. This annual trip is continuously made possible by generous friends like you and supporters of SMYCE. I also give much thanks to many unselfish teachers and host families that continually give countless hours of their time both home and abroad. SMYCE is partnered with Collegio San Carlo in Milan, Italy which is a Pre-K thru 12th grade school.
