Kildare students receive awards for taking part in European Parliament scheme
This week, the European Parliament's Liaison Office in Ireland hosted an awards ceremony for Kildare schools taking part in this year's European Parliament Ambassador Schools Programme (EPAS).
The ceremony took place in Eurofound, Loughlinstown Co. Dublin and was attended by students of:
- Coláiste Chiaráin, Leixlip, Co. Kildare;
- ETSS Wicklow, The Glebe, Wicklow Town, Wicklow;
- Loreto Secondary School, Bray, Co. Wicklow;
- Maynooth Post Primary School, Maynooth, Co. Kildare;
- Maynooth Community College,Maynooth, Co. Kildare;
- Presentation de la Salle College, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow
- and St Mary's College , Arklow, Co. Wicklow.
The students received certificates of participation as well as plaques for their respective schools.
Speeches were held by Fionnuala Croker, Head of EPLO; Ivailo Kalfin, Executive Director Eurofound and Muiris O'Cearbhaill, News Reporter, TheJournal.ie.
Thomas Kramer from EPLO Dublin also spoke about Together.eu and the importance of youth participation in Democracy before we screened an impactful film made by the European Parlaiment to promote the eelctions. The extraordinary film can be watched here.
The main goal of the EPAS programme is to raise awareness of European parliamentary democracy and European citizenship values among young people. Teacher training and resources are provided and a number of criteria has to be fulfilled before the schools are awarded Ambassador School status at the end of the school year. The programme is now in its 12th year in Ireland and there are currently 73 schools registered.