The visit marks two decades of sister-island exchange between Bainbridge and Nicaragua.

Two islands, separated by over 3,000 miles, will feel a lot closer this week.

A 15-member delegation from the island of Ometepe in Nicaragua will arrive on Bainbridge Island Saturday to commemorate two decades of cross-cultural friendship.

“It’s an opportunity for Bainbridge Islanders to connect with our friends from Ometepe and celebrate our 20-year partnership,” said Susan Shaffer, a Bain­bridge-Ometepe Sister Island Association board member who helped organize the delegation’s visit.

BOSIA was found­ed in 1986 by island resident Kim Ester­berg, who visited Nicaragua looking for a way to reach beyond U.S. policies and offer direct human connections and a platform for international cooperation.

The relationships Esterberg and many other Bainbridge residents have fostered through BOSIA have led to cleaner water, more schools, college educations for some of the island’s poorest people, increased literacy and an economic lifeline for a struggling coffee plantation.

In turn, the residents of Ometepe have offered their homes to dozens of Bainbridge high school students and adult travelers.

“They’ve been so welcoming and gracious when we have had many delegates come down there,” Shaffer said. “This is an opportunity to have them in our homes and reciprocate their generosity.”

The group from Ometepe includes teachers, doctors, nurses, students, a former mayor and a coffee farmer. They’ll stay with local host families while taking part in numerous tours and visits. “Some have been here before and some have never been out of Nicaragua before,” said Shaffer.

The delegation includes BOSIA’s Ometepe office manager Dorita Gutierrez, BOSIA scholarship coordinator Maria Estela Alvarez, literacy advocate Karla Saenz and Finca Magda­lena coffee cooperative manager Santo Lopez.

Their trip was funded by donations to the island’s One Call for All campaign.

On Saturday, the delegation will arrive to a welcome party at the Bainbridge Commons starting at 8 p.m.

The delegation will join local BOSIA members on Sept. 21 for a retreat at Eagle Harbor Congregational Church.

BOSIA will hold a 20th-year celebration on Sept. 23 at the Sakai Intermediate School gym, starting at 6:30 p.m.

On Sept. 25, the delegation will join BOSIA’s board, host families and the Bainbridge Island deaf community for an ice cream social from 2 to 3 p.m.

The delegation heads back to Nicaragua on Sept. 29.