The inaugural on line meeting of the Kutaisi -Newport Youth Society, involving students from Llanwern High School and Kutaisi’s Public School 23, took place on Thursday 23rd March.
The youngsters knew each other from past exchanges of videos and letters but this was the first time they had talked to each other directly. Both groups of students were nervous at the beginning but as they gained in confidence more and more volunteered to step forward to talk about themselves and their families.
They asked each other about their choice of music, their out of school activities and what they liked most about their respective cities. Soon they were vying with each other for use of the microphone. Everyone involved agreed it had been an enjoyable and worthwhile exercise. It had helped establish the aims the schools had agreed at the beginning of the present academic year; the setting up of a pen-pal scheme, an exchange of videos and regular on line meetings.
It is hoped all three activities will progress on a regular basis enabling the students to get to know each other better. The meeting took place during the week the Georgian Ambassador Her Excellency Sophie Katsarava paid a formal visit to Newport at the invitation of Newport City Council Leader Cllr Jane Mudd.
As part of the official programme for the visit, the Ambassador visited Llanwern High School and chatted with, and congratulated, many of the students who had participated in the meeting. The Kutaisi-Newport Youth Society is a text book example of young people learning about, and making friends with, youngsters living more than a thousand miles away.
Colin Mason NKTA Deputy Chair