International travel program provides workers for summer in Port Clinton

PORT CLINTON - Ever since Zeynep Dogan of Germany was a child, she has dreamed of visiting New York City. Thanks to the U.S. Department of State BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel Program, she will fulfill that dream later this summer. But first, Dogan has a lot of work to do in Port Clinton.

The Summer Work Travel Program is an international exchange program with a twofold purpose: give college students from around the world the opportunity to visit America and provide much-needed employees for businesses who need more help during the busy summer season.

The students enter the U.S. through J-1 visas, which are nonimmigrant visas granted to visitors who are approved to participate in exchange visitor programs such as the Summer Work Travel Program. The students’ visas allow them to spend several weeks working and an additional month to travel around the country.

Not only does the program, often referred to as the J-1 Program, provide manpower for American businesses and travel opportunities for young adults around the world, but it also creates global connections as Summer Work Travel Program participants return home with a greater knowledge of American culture.

“The program creates mini-ambassadors,” said Port Clinton Mayor Mike Snider.

Snider has been involved with the J-1 program through his day job since 1991 and has seen firsthand the impact the program has on the local economy by providing the workers needed to keep businesses running.

“I always wondered what would happen without J-1. We found out in 2020. It wasn’t good,” he said.

On July 24, the City of Port Clinton, along with local businesses and community organizations, hosted a Welcome Event downtown for local Summer Work Travel Program participants. The event featured free food, live music, dancing and games. Ohio hosted 2,936 Summer Work Travel Program participants in 2022, and nearly 150 program participants attended the Port Clinton event.

Zimbabwe native to work at Catawba Island Club

Among them was Nyasha Ngirishi, who is a Zimbabwe native who joined the program in Romania where his father serves as a missionary. This was his first time participating in the J-1 program. He will work at the Catawba Island Club in the housekeeping department before he travels.

“I heard about the travel program and thought it would be a good way to spend the summer,” Ngirishi said.

Becky Davis is a Regional Account Manager with InterExchange, a nonprofit international exchange organization that helped many of the program participants connect to Ottawa County businesses. She said the participants are not seeking new lives in America. They come for the cultural experience.

These summer workers are here for the experience

“There is no avenue for immigration through the program,” Davis said. “The idea is that they will go home and take back with them an idea of our culture. It creates mutual understanding. They work three or four months to earn money, and then they travel across America.”

Davis is thankful for the support of Ohio legislators who support the program. U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur and a representative of Sen. J.D. Vance attended the event.

“Mary Kaptur and J.D. Vance are both very supportive of the program,” Davis said.

Ece Duran of Turkey is a J-1 program participant working as a lifeguard at CIC. When her work term is completed, she plans to head to the West Coast.

“I’m going to rent a car and drive to San Francisco,” she said. “I made some friends over here, and they may come with me.”

Duran said she was surprised that Port Clinton is a “quiet” town.

“This place is really quiet, but I met some really nice people, and I’ve had so many opportunities,” she said.

Before heading to New York City, Dogan will work in the kitchen of CIC. She joined the program to experience a new culture and improve her English. She was surprised at the friendliness of people in Port Clinton.

“I feel I can trust them immediately. Here, you feel at home,” she said.

Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at  sheritrusty4@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Summer Work Travel Program brings workers into Port Clinton area