A group of 39 students from the Władysław Broniewski I General Secondary School in Bolesławiec, accompanied by three supervisors, stayed for a week in the German city of Siegburg. It was the young secondary-school students’ first visit as part of an exchange between twin cities. In May 1992, the authorities of both cities signed a cooperation agreement in Bolesławiec. This was not the first bilateral contact, as since 1953 compatriots from Lower Silesia had maintained cultural and personal exchanges with Bolesławiec. The current visit marked the beginning of new partnership relations.
Our students were accommodated in Siegburg in the homes of students from the local secondary school. Their hosts organized many interesting school activities for them, including foreign-language lectures, talks on music history, and more. The Bolesławiec students’ good command of German enabled them to take an active part in the activities that had been prepared.
One of the aims of the trip was to learn about the German education system for young people in secondary schools. The proximity of Bonn and Cologne made it possible to visit the major cultural centers of western Germany. The most enjoyable part was hiking in the mountains, during which young people from both countries took part in activities together.
Since 1986, Siegburg has been a European city (it flies the European flag for promoting the idea of a united Europe). During our stay, we witnessed the signing of an official agreement—a cooperation agreement—with Bolesławiec, as well as Siegburg’s agreements with the French city of Sur de Marne and the Portuguese city of Guarda.
The Bolesławiec youths’ stay ended with a symbolic glass of champagne and confirmation of a return visit by German young people to Bolesławiec in March 1993.
Margaritta Roman
student of class IV “c,” I General Secondary School