Tap into the life of the Maasai on a service-learning adventure to Kenya, Africa. During your trip, you will reside in Amboseli at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro to discover the Maasai way of life and support MCV’s humanitarian programs. MCV trips create meaningful connections between travelers and the Maasai people. Through sustainable tourism, we can improve the lives of the Maasai communities! This unique experience in Maasailand is the only opportunity to uplift Maasai communities, enjoy a wildlife safari, and safeguard Maasai heritage.

San Diego’s strategic geographic location has been key to making our economy prosper. Connectivity has been critical to our region’s global competitiveness, attracting a total of $15.6 billion of foreign investment in five years due to its top life sciences market, tech scene, presence of distinguished universities and quality of life. To increase our region’s global engagements with international cities, San Diego has established sixteen Sister Cities Societies in which cultural, educational, business, and technical exchanges take place.

February is the shortest month of the year for everyone in the world, but for us it has become the longest. And it did not start on February 1, but on the 24th, which was the first day for us. The first day of the full-scale invasion. And then there was the second, third, fourth, fortieth, one hundred and first, 353… every day is a date for someone, and for us it is another day of struggle. Soon it will be 365 days plus 8 years.

For each of us there is a day that was memorable, a day that hurt, pinched and sometimes even made us happy. All the days in conjunction and every day individually was in the fight for the most important thing – for freedom. Every such free day was very precious to us and this struggle continues to this day.

Please join us in honoring the one-year anniversary of Ukrainian resistance against Russia’s full-scale invasion. The commemoration event will take place at 6:30 PM on February 24th, at the Majorca Room (Room 101), Casa del Prado. This is an opportunity for us to stand together and show our support for the bravery and determination of the Ukrainian people. Come and witness the ringing of bells to mark the occasion, as well as a special program featuring speeches and performances that will pay tribute to Ukraine’s resilience. This is a historic moment, and we invite everyone to join us in recognizing and celebrating the courage of the Ukrainian people.

The Mission Bay Preservationists go to Japan!

We are fundraising to give some of Southern California’s most talented young musicians the opportunity to travel and perform in JAPAN. This adventure started in 2017 when the Preservationists were selected to perform and represent San Diego in its sister city Yokohama, Japan to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of sister city relations. We will be returning in April of 2023 to collaborate with local musicians, perform for community events and enhance the bonds between our two cities.

The Board of Directors of the San Diego International Sister Cities Association is pleased to announce the appointment of Jessica Censotti as its new Executive Director. Prior to joining SanDISCA, Ms. Censotti’s has been in the non-profit sector for 25+ years, her professional experience included strategic planning, leadership development, human resources management, organizational development, and visual media. Humanitarian work is Ms. Censotti’s passion, she has developed global fundraising campaigns in over 20 countries including the U.S., Kenya, Haiti, Syria, Sudan, Bangladesh, India, Turkey, Philippines, Myanmar, Central African Republic, Nepal, and more. She founded a non-profit to provide clean water & education to the Maasai people in East Africa called My Chosen Vessels and started the SanDISCA friendship city in Kenya.

Sponsored by Sister Cities International (SCI), the showcase gives youth worldwide the opportunity to express their vision for a more unified peaceful world through original art (classical and digital) literature (authors and  poets), photography and music (original pieces).  Students between 13-18 years of age, associated with a Sister Cities Society may participate.  As an added incentive, winners of the international competition in each category receive cash awards: 1st place, $1000.; 2nd place, $250.; 3rd place, $100.  The winners of each category will be announced during the summer at the Youth Leadership Summit.

On April 23, 2022, San Diego/Alcalá Sister Cities Society organized the 9th Annual Cervantes Festival in Balboa Park. We celebrated and honored Alcalá de Henares, our sister city in Spain and  birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, by a public reading of passages from Cervantes´ immortal novel Don Quijote de la Mancha.

San Diego/Alcalá Sister Cities Society and House of Spain invites you to the 8th annual Cervantes Festival.  Saturday, April 23rd, from 10am to 3pm at the Balboa Park House of Pacific Relations lawn.

San Diego’s Sister City in Spain is Alcalá de Henares, birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes. To honor and celebrate the  author of Don Quijote de La Mancha, SanDiego/Alcalá Sister Cities Society organizes an annual Cervantes Festival in Balboa Park. Students and their instructors and families, along with all SanDiegans, are invited to read their favorite passage of Cervantes’ immortal novel.