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LABO students gather for midterm picnic
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Neighbors | Submitted. A group of Japanese youth and their chaperones visited the area this summer and gathered at Smith Corners Church in Austintown for a picnic and chance to see each other and meet host families. Pictured, from left, is Karalyn Burcaw of North Benton, Shiori Mamada, Moe Yamaguchi with Rebecca Huth of Atwater and Rion Sako with Rebecca Smit of Columbiana.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Eighty-five Japanese students were in Ohio families as part of the LABO program that has been offered each summer for more than 50 years. The program allows children to live in American families as a way to expand their English language skills and learn from their American peers. Chaperones also live with families as a way to be available to the children and help with homesickness, health issues, and language barriers. Pictured, from left, are Miho Ishikawa (chaperone), Nathan Eastman (host of chaperone), Kenta Ishikawa (chaperone), Satoski Nishiguchi (guest of Adam Schrock of Canfield), Taichi Nakasoko (guest of Nick Martinelli of Berlin Center).
A group of Japanese youth and their chaperones, who have been in the area since July 23, gathered at Smith Corners Church in Austintown for a picnic and chance to see and meet other host families.
A group of 85 students are staying with Ohio families as part of the LABO program that has been offered each summer for more than 50 years. The LABO program allows children to live with an American family as a way to expand their English language skills and learn from American children their age. Chaperones also live with families as a way to be available to the children and help with homesickness, health issues and language barriers.
During their time in Ohio, each family chooses the activities and experiences they want for their family guest. Ohio 4-H is the host agency for this, coordinated by Ohio State University Extension specialist Mary Lynn Thalheimer and locally by Gretchen Kalany and Gary Reel.