France/ Soliers. The twinning committee is looking for a host family

The twinning committee in Soliers, Calvados, is anticipating upcoming exchanges with Ipplepen (UK) and Krombach (Germany), and is looking for new families to welcome visitors.

The Soliers (Calvados) twinning committee was set up in 1986. "Initially, a class from Soliers elementary school exchanged with a class from Ipplepen in the UK. That's how the twinning between our communes began", explains Dominique Halbout, president of the twinning committee. Ten years later, the association set up a new partnership with the town of Krombach, this time in Germany.

In recent years, several families have left the association. "Fifty years ago, twinning was an opportunity to travel. Nowadays, it's much easier to travel outside the association," notes Dominique Halbout. The association organizes two meetings a year. One year, Solarian families travel to Ipplepen, while the Germans come to France, and vice versa the following year. " Each time they come, we organize homestays and cultural visits," she adds.

"Declining interest in Germany

Despite a very good atmosphere in the committee and the friendships forged with communes in foreign countries, the association is noticing a drop in interest from families in exchanges with Krombach. "We have a few fewer families wishing to exchange with Germany. Perhaps it's due to the distance: when we go there, we have a twelve-hour bus journey. It's almost as much to go to Ipplepen in England, but part of the journey is by boat, so it doesn't seem as long," wonders Dominique Halbout.

The association is looking for a family to host visitors. "For the 2024 Climb, we're looking for a family in their 40s or 50s who can accommodate a young woman and her family who have been coming since she was a child."

The twinning committee finances its activities through grants and the annual attic fair. On Sunday September 17, it held its ^30th edition. "The attic fair works very well. With the €10 membership fee per family we charge, we can pay for meals for our members and some of the trips," she explains.

Information: jumelagesolarien@orange.fr ; tel.: 06 33 33 51 42.

Source: www.ouest-france.fr/