Three students are discussing starting an international student buddy programme. Olivia (Student) I think launching a buddy programme could be amazing for integrating international students. Cultural exchange goes both ways, and this could really help new arrivals feel welcome. I'm picturing language sharing meetups, campus tours, even joint social events there's so much potential. Ruby (Student) It does sound lovely, but I worry about how we're going to find enough committed volunteers. A lot of students sign up for things with good intentions and then drop out mid term. Without consistent participation, the whole thing could fall apart and leave new students feeling worse. Luke (Student) That's my concern too. Sustainability is key. We've got to think long term what happens after the first batch? Will it still function next year? We don't want to build something that fizzles out. We need to start small and see if it actually works before going full scale. Olivia (Student) I get that. So maybe a small pilot to start with? We could have a tight group of well trained volunteers and monitor how it goes. If we include a cultural awareness workshop before the programme begins, we'll at least ensure buddies are prepared and respectful of differences. Ruby (Student) Training definitely helps, and if we match buddies based on interests or courses, that might improve engagement. I just think we need to be really clear about time commitments like how often they should meet, attend events, that kind of thing so everyone knows what's expected from the start. Luke (Student) Agreed. We'll also want to build in some basic monitoring maybe monthly check ins and short feedback forms. If we can track how it's going and get honest responses, we'll have a clearer idea of whether it's worth expanding in future terms. Olivia (Student) We can even incorporate event scheduling early like at least one campus mixer and one cultural activity each term. That gives buddies a reason to stay connected beyond just meeting for coffee. And it helps promote shared experiences between local and international students. Ruby (Student) Yes, as long as we keep it manageable. I'd suggest limiting the first round to, say, 10 buddy pairs. That way we can focus on quality interactions and adjust based on what works and what doesn't before committing to something bigger. Luke (Student) Sounds like we're all on the same page now. Let's set up a small scale pilot next semester, provide training, match based on criteria, and schedule a couple of joint events. After one term, we'll evaluate how effective and sustainable it really is before deciding on next steps.