Galway student one of 20 Irish teenagers on educational trip to Belfast, Dublin and Strasbourg
A secondary school student from Galway was one of just 20 teenagers from all over the island of Ireland to be given a first-hand insight into democracy in action – by visiting parliaments in Belfast, Dublin and Strasbourg all over one busy week.
Before starting her whistlestop tour, Saidbh McNamara, who is a TY student at Salerno Secondary School in Salthill, was presented with her Rotary Youth Leadership Development certificate at Europe House in Dublin.
She was one of the winners in a competition which Rotary Ireland has been running for over 30 years and which rewards young people blessed with clear leadership potential, based on their extra-curricular activities.
Run in conjunction with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Dublin, the winners enjoy an all-expenses paid week-long trip to Belfast, Dublin and Strasbourg.
Saidbh received her certificate from Rotary Ireland District Governor, Michael Fleming, and Fearghas Ó Béara, Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland.
The itinerary for the students’ trip included visits to Belfast, Dublin, and Strasbourg to attend the respective parliaments in all three.
This year’s Rotary YL Winners’ Trip differed to other years with everybody meeting on the Monday for registration, welcome and lunch at the Stormont Hotel Belfast.
The group then moved on to Stormont Buildings where Rotary had organised a tour where the students met several politicians and also listened in on some debates from the visitors’ gallery.
On the Tuesday of their fact-finding week, they gathered at the ‘Europa Experience’ visitor centre in Chatham Street, Dublin, where they immersed themselves in all things EU-related, including a 360-degree cinema presentation.
The students heard some very interesting presentations on the EU and particularly on the European Parliament’s role and powers, as well as an insight into traineeships which are available with the EU institutions.
After being presented with their leadership certificates, the students then embarked on tours of the Seanad and Dail where they met several Ministers, TDs and Senators.
Early the next morning they flew out to Strasbourg where they visited the famous Notre Dame Cathedral and enjoyed a private tour of the European Court of Human Rights.
On the penultimate day of their stay, they went to the European Parliament where they and students from all over Europe were welcomed by Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament.
The highlight for the students was taking part in Euroscola, a simulation of the work of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in a debate and vote on the EU’s actions to tackle disinformation.
I also learned about all the brilliant work Rotary does here in Ireland and all over the world
As secretary of her student council Saidbh enjoys representing her fellow pupils and organising fundraisers to support charities which she says has shown her the importance of getting together and giving back to the local community.
She is also a member of her school’s library committee.
Outside school she enjoys playing hockey with her local club and is also a member of Trading Faces Performing Arts School which enables her to explore her interests in musical theatre, singing and acting.
One of the reasons she entered Rotary’s Youth Leadership Development competition was to become a more confident speaker and to develop her leadership and communication skills.
She said she learnt to speak more comfortably in interviews and to have more faith in her own ability to speak and debate on a variety of issues.
“I also learned about all the brilliant work Rotary does here in Ireland and all over the world and how passionate they are about this work,” she said.
“I also learnt about how the governments in Stormont and Dublin function and how they interlink with one another and the European Parliament to create change and progress,” she added.
And what was the highlight of the week?
“I don’t think I could pick a highlight of the week very easily as we did so much and experienced so many things but if I had to pick, I’d say meeting likeminded young people at the Euroscola event from all different countries as this really gave me a feeling of connection regardless of any barriers between us such as language,” she replied.
For Saidbh, conflict and climate are the biggest issues facing young people and which politicians need to address.
“There are lots of issues in the world, but conflict and climate change are the two key ones which politicians need to prioritise,” she said.
“We don’t want to inherit their shortcomings in protecting our planet and all that live on it.
"It’s unfair on young people to have to shoulder issues in the future that could have been preventable with more action in the present.”
She said she would highly recommend the competition to young people.
“I really enjoyed the experience and gained so much from the trip and I know there are others like me who would get the same from this amazing experience.”
Saidbh and the other students are a credit to themselves, their families, their schools and their communities
Michael Fleming, District Governor of Rotary Ireland praised the students’ enthusiasm and willingness to engage with the programme.
“Saidbh and the other students are a credit to themselves, their families, their schools and their communities,” he said.
“It was wonderful to watch this group work and socialise together, and we hope the bonds they formed this week will endure for a long time to come.
“I would like to thank all the teachers and Rotarians who helped us along the way to plan and organise this trip and I would urge as many young people as possible from every part of the island to take part in next year’s competition” Mr Fleming concluded.
The Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition is open to 16 and 17-year-olds who are living on the island of Ireland. For more information go to www.rotary.ie