International Events

In addition to organizing the sister-city exchanges, WIFA coordinates a variety of activities to enhance cultural relationships in the Worthington community. Ethnic dinners, lectures and international festival celebrations are just a few of the ways WIFA strives to achieve its goals of fostering intercultural friendships, welcoming international newcomers, and learning and experiencing cultural differences. The City of Worthington and WIFA believe that understanding different cultures and customs is essential for living in the global community of the 21st century.

A mix of in-person and virtual programming is being offered. We hope you will join us for our upcoming programs outlined here. 

SIFA zoom 10-14-2020

Scroll down to view videos of past WIFA-SIFA Live virtual programs presented in partnership with our sister-city Sayama, Japan. Programs include a Tour of Gardens, Student Music Showcase, and Sister City Holiday Traditions.

   Upcoming 2022 & 2023 programs   

October 11, 2022, 7pm - Inexplicable India with Author David Mould (via Zoom) 

To historian and journalist David Mould, India is so diverse as to defy description. It is just as much its epic history as it is the poverty, pollution and crime in today's news. Take a tour and you will be rewarded with the country's smells, sounds, sights, culture and people. Presented in partnership with the Worthington Libraries.

Participants will meet via Zoom. When registering, please make sure your email address is correct as Zoom invitations will be emailed 24 hours before the event. Registration is required. Register here.

October 22, 2022, 7:00 pm  - WIFA-SIFA Live Art Gallery Tour & Talks

Join the Worthington & Sayama International Friendship Associations for a live virtual program bringing Worthington and Sayama citizens together for artist interviews and tours of art galleries in each city. WIFA and SIFA members will showcase the dynamic art scenes and creative talents in their communities and share conversation and discussion. We hope you will join us for this special program to strengthen cultural understanding and the bonds of our long-time sister-city relationship. The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to registrants prior to the discussion. Register here.

November 16, 2022 , 7pm - Book Discussion

The Worthington International Friendship Association Book Group plans to meet via Zoom on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 to discuss books featuring the United Kingdom. The format will continue to offer more titles to choose from. You may read all, or just one or two. There will be round robin discussion related to the cultures and how they are reflected in the different books.  Book reservations may be made online by following the links for each title or by calling the Worthington Libraries at 614-807-2626. The link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to registrants prior to the discussion.  Register here. 

UK

1.  The Crystal cave by Mary Stewart

 England

2.  Elizabeth the Queen, the life of a modern monarch by Sally Bedell Smith

3.  The story of Britain: a history of the great ages: from the Romans to the present by Roy Strong

 N. Ireland

4.  Diary of a young naturalist by Dana McAnulty

 Scotland

5.  Sunset song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon

6.  The thirty-nine steps by John Buchan

7. The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd  (in library catalog but not available) highly praised!

 Wales

8.  Here be dragons by Sharon Kay Penman

9.  The mabinogion by Sioned Davis

February 3, 2023 - WIFA International Celebration Dinner

After taking 2021 and 2022 off, WIFA's signature event returns in 2023. The dinner will take place at the Worthington Presbyterian Church. More details will be announced when they are available. 

   Past Featured Programs - WIFA-SIFA Live!  

program open graphic for website
Program opening slide for website
zoom opening slide (post event)

While the pandemic temporarily paused our in-person sister city delegation visits, the Worthington and Sayama International Friendship Associations are coming together virtually to hold joint, live programs featuring cultures and conversation. 

October 2021 Tour of Gardens

WIFA and SIFA presented a Tour of Gardens program showcasing gardens of each community.

March 2021 Student Music Showcase

WIFA and SIFA held a virtual student music showcase, which featured choral and instrumental music, and also reflected on the 10th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake. 

December 2020 Holiday Traditions

The first-ever live virtual WIFA-SIFA program featured winter holiday traditions from Sayama and Worthington.