ADAMS TWP — Those who have shopped at the Mars Fall Craft Show, held each autumn at the Mars High School and Middle School, have unknowingly supported international education.

The craft show proceeds each year benefit the high school’s AFS/MISA (American Field Service/Mars International Students Association) Club, and part of those funds have been designated for a new educational grant.

The Language and Culture Grant program will enhance international education through supplemental language and cultural resources and experiences, said club sponsor Shawna Peters, who teaches German at the school.

Potential uses for the grant money include deferring the cost of field trips, regional language competitions, classroom materials, guest speakers, and other related activities.

“The key requirement is that the grant be used to promote the teaching of foreign languages or international studies,” Peters said.

While she declined to share the amount of the grant, she said the funds will go toward one or two projects per school year.

She said proceeds from the craft show pay for a scholarship for a club member, helping students going abroad through the organization, and new scholarships. Now more programs, like field trips, can be totally or partially funded by the new grant instead of requiring students to pay their own way.

“Without these funds it is really expensive for the kids to go (on field trips,)” Peters said. “(AFS/MISA is) now expanding our efforts to benefit students interested in learning more about the world, but who may be unable to travel abroad.”

She said the AFS/MISA Club will sponsor International Days, to be held at the high school on Thursday and the middle school on Friday. Among other activities, foreign exchange students from Norway, Italy, Germany, Thailand and other countries who are studying in nearby high schools will come to the event to talk to students at the high school and middle school about their respective countries.

Peters said it is more important than ever for young people to study the various cultures of the world.

“It’s a global world now, with the Internet and technology,” she said. “Every culture is different, so knowing about their traditions and language is very important.”

This year, Mars High School is educating two students from Italy and one from Germany. While no Mars students are abroad this year, Peters said in the past the district has sent four students overseas as exchange students.