About WICEC

Welcome to the Waupaca International Cultural Exchange Committee, where we open doors to the world for middle and high school students and their families.  Our mission is to provide culturally enriching experiences by promoting international exchanges in general, and specifically a student exchange program between the sister cities of Waupaca, WI and Mitoyo City, Japan.  Here, students can expand their global perspective, embrace diversity, and foster meaningful connections across borders. Join us in this unique journey of cultural exchange and discovery!

How It Works

With the support of WICEC, students ages 12 to 18 travel for eight to ten days in July or August to Mitoyo City, Japan, staying with host families and experiencing a wide variety of activities with their hosts. The committee is active in raising money to make the trip available to all young people in Waupaca, making travel arrangements, and providing a venue for sharing the travelers’ experience with the Waupaca community.   The goal of the committee is to offset at least half of the cost of the trip for participating students.   Other expenses include, but may not be limited to: a one-night hotel stay, transportation while in Japan, gifts for host family members, and spending money for snacks and souvenirs.

In August each year, WICEC members host travels from Mitoyo City, Japan, who stay for seven to ten days with Waupaca host families, sharing in our local culture and daily life.   WICEC helps to organize and provide funding for many local activities, including trips to the Waupaca Foundry, Hartman Creek State Park, the fire and police station and downtown Waupaca, among many others!  It is a wonderful way to showcase what Waupaca has to offer.  

Typically, as a member of WICEC, the first year consists of hosting a student or chaperone from Japan in your home. The second year your child and/or you (the parent) will have the opportunity to travel to Japan. The third year the child and/or parents will continue to help raise funds so others may experience the cultural exchange between Waupaca and Mitoyo City, Japan.   More details on qualifications for both travelers and hosts can be found on our "Get Involved!" page!

Funding

WICEC relies primarily on fundraisers and grants to help defray the travel expenses to Japan for Waupaca students and chaperones. Fundraisers include concession stand sales, product sales, Culver's dine-in nights, grant applications, and many other creative ways of spreading the word and gathering funds. 

If you would like to support WICEC, please check out our upcoming fundraising events on our "Events" page, or email us at waupacajapanexchange@gmail.com.  We would appreciate your support!

Meetings
Want to join us or learn more?  Email us at waupacajapanexchange@gmail.com or join us for a meeting!  The committee meets the third Monday of every month at 6:00 pm in the Senior Center at the Waupaca Recreation Center.  Everyone is welcome!