Katie McArdle’s Recent Visit to Strasbourg

Katie McArdle from Drogheda has returned from Strasbourg representing the young people of Ireland as a winner of the Rotary Club Youth Leadership Program.

In her own words this is her experinece of travelling to the Euopean Parlament, meeting new people and having the time of her life.

My experience was incredible

Katie McArde

I have just returned from Strasbourg after taking part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Development Program. I represented the Rotary Ireland  group at Euroscala in the European Parliament along with 23 other participants from Ireland.

My experience was incredible! We discussed and debated on issues such as Young people and Addiction, The future of Europe, Environment and Renewable energy and Human Rights, to name a few . I got the chance to speak in front of 80+  people from all over Europe on the topic of Migration & Integration as well as taking part in debates in the European Parliament with the other 500 young people who attended Euroscala.

This Rotary Youth Leadership Award also included a trip to the Titanic Museum, a private tour of Stormont where we got to meet and discuss with politicians, a tour of Dublin castle and an incredible trip to the gorgeous city of Strasbourg.

I enjoyed every minute of it and met so many inspiring young people who I have no doubt will be shaping the world around us for the better in the years to come. I would like to thank the Rotary Drogheda Club for giving me this amazing opportunity as well as all the volunteers involved that made this week possible. I have gained so much confidence and knowledge from this experience as well as many life lasting memories and friends which I will treasure forever!

Katie gave a wonderful presentation to Rotary Club Drogheda recently at our weekly lunch. She is a credit to Greenhills School, her family and Drogheda.

Richard Schmidt Rotary Club Drogheda

This exciting six day team building trip began in Belfast where winners had a visit to The Titanic Centre, a tour of Stormont and met with local politicians and business leaders.  They then traveled to Dublin where they were invited to an information seminar and lunch hosted by the Staff of the European Parliament offices. This was followed by a tour of Dail Eireann and further meetings with politicians. Next they flew to Strasbourg and prepared for the highlight of the trip which is a full day of debating a variety of motions at Euroscola at the European Parliament in Strasbourg along with about five hundred other students from all over Europe. On the last day they had some time out for a sightseeing trip around Strasbourg before they flew back to Dublin.