Local Durham NC citizens volunteer on a "city committee" of their favorite city; all the committees are connected by an elected SCD Board of Directors. Each city develops unique activities and/or charitable projects. All ages are welcome: middle school students, working professionals, and retired people!

Arusha, Tanzania (sister city since 1991)

Arusha is a city (pop. est. 500,000 in 2010) in the east African nation of Tanzania. Arusha sits at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro in the country’s northern region. Tanzania is the land of both Ernest Hemingway’s adventures and Jane Goodall’s environmental advocacy!

The culture includes a mosaic of Muslim, Hindu, Christian, and tribal beliefs; languages include KiSwahili, English, and tribal dialects.

With invaluable assistance from Duke organizations and The Links and HALO (local civic groups), our projects include helping children: providing school uniforms for AIDS orphans every year, helping with town sanitation system projects, and food donations.

Durham, UK (sister city since 1975)

On a peninsula formed by the River Wear, Durham (pop. est. 87,000 in 2010) is about 20 miles inland from the North Sea coast. In this former coal-mining region, Durham’s university is the 3rd oldest in England and its 900-year-old cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage site!

Exchanges have included civic and church leaders, professionals in research and technology, students, and the Durham Children’s Choir.

Kostroma, Russia (sister city since 1989)

Founded in 1152 in central Russia (211 miles northeast of Moscow), Kostroma (pop. est. 270,000 in 2009) is one of the historic cities of the Golden Ring. Magnificent examples of churches, wooden buildings, and 18th century architecture abound.

Especially noteworthy is the Ipatievsky Monastery where Mikhael Romanov resided in 1612 when he was called to become the first tsar of his dynasty.

Exchanges with Kostroma have included civic leaders, clergy, physicians, businessmen, librarians, and students.

Toyama, Japan (sister city since 1989)

Located on a delta plain between the Sea of Japan and the towering Southern Japanese Alps, Toyama (pop. est. 418,000 in 2010) was completely rebuilt after WWII bombing raids into a thriving modern metropolis, an international port, and a "City of Medicine".

Projects include middle school visits and Duke Medical Center internships. At The Sarah P. Duke Gardens, we commissioned the Durham-Toyoma Sister Cities Pavilion, and we promote tea ceremonies there (for everyone).

We help represent and promote Durham in the world, and the City of Durham is supportive:  (A) The Mayor is our Honorary Chair; (B) A City Hall staff person supports the program-- particularly as a liaison with various city departments in exchanges concerning municipal entities, economic development, technology, public safety, and numerous other areas; (C) SCD also receives various forms of direct and indirect (in-kind) support for many of its activities.

SCD Board meetings are six times a year and an Annual Meeting of the general membership is held each October. A financial review is conducted each fiscal year ending June 30.

Current officers and Board members are listed on our Contacts page.