Turkish students on Gallipoli exchange

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Turkish students on Gallipoli exchange

Leongatha Secondary College students were treated to a visit from Turkish international exchange students on Thursday, July 14

Beril, Idil, Ayliz, Ece, Ilayda and Doga attend Kadıköy Anadolu Lisesi in Turkey, doing their equivalent of year 11.

The girls are in Leongatha visiting their host sisters from Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College and Leongatha Secondary College for a few weeks as part of the Gallipoli Youth Exchange.

Leongatha Secondary College students Maddi Wight, Elly Egan, Gemma Pruin and Lauren Redpath visited their host sisters in Turkey for six weeks earlier in the year as part of the program.

The program sponsored by Rotary Club and RSL is in its fifth year of exchange, with students staying at each other’s home as a sign of reconciliation following the horrific events at Gallipoli in WW1.

When asked about their favourite things in Australia, all agreed the native wildlife was a highlight and spoke of their excitement when they saw kangaroos.

Lauren Redpath spoke of her experiences at the LSC assembly.

“It was a truly humbling and unique experience,” she said of her visit to the Gallipoli Peninsula.

Fellow student Elly Egan agreed, citing the visit to the grave of her researched solider as “very moving.”

“We’ve built strong, lasting relationships with our host sisters. It’s been a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Ms Egan said.

The Turkish students return to Moda today.

International sisterhood: (back row) Beril, Idil, Ayliz, Ece, Ilayda and Doga from Turkey with (front row) Leongatha Secondary College exchange students Maddi Wight, Elly Egan, Gemma Pruin and Lauren Redpath.

International sisterhood: (back row) Beril, Idil, Ayliz, Ece, Ilayda and Doga from Turkey with (front row) Leongatha Secondary College exchange students Maddi Wight, Elly Egan, Gemma Pruin and Lauren Redpath.

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Posted by on Jul 28 2015. Filed under Community. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

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