Club Youth Leadership Candidates
Club nominee for the Youth Leadership Development Competition 2018 Olivia Copeland, Methodist College Belfast, at the Regional Final, hosted by the Rotary Club of Belfast East Tuesday 21 November, won a place on the 24 member all-Ireland group to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg and take part in the Euroscola Debate, February 2018. The Club was delighted to welcome Olivia to the Club Monday 05 November. The standard of candidates this year from Methodist College and RBAI was very high. Following interviews at the schools two candidates were selected to go through to the Club Final at which Thomas Copeland from Methody was selected to represent the Club at the Regional Final in Bangor on 25 November 2015. Interestingly Thomas's brother Rory was a finalist in 2013.
Congratulations to the Club nominee for the Youth Leadership Development Competition 2020 Mia Jackson, Methodist College Belfast, who, at the Regional Final, hosted by the Rotary Club of Belfast East Tuesday 26 November, won a place on the 24 member all-Ireland group to visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg and take part in the Euroscola Debate, February 2020. We wish her well and look forward to welcoming her to the Club next year to hear about the trip.
Sadly due to there being no meetings due to the Coronovirus lock-down Mia was unable to report in person at the Club but she has sent her report which can be seen here.
She notes that it "was an incredible experience, where I met a diverse, interesting, politically minded and all round amazing team that represented every corner of Ireland! In the space of a week we became friends for life! I am incredibly grateful to Rotary Ireland for this once in a lifetime opportunity, but more specifically to The Rotary Club of Belfast who chose me to represent them on the trip and sponsored me for the duration."Anabel McClements, Victoria College
This year’s Club selected candidate for the Rotary Youth Leadership Competition was Anabel McClements from Victoria College, the standard of all candidates was very high and unfortunately she did not get through the Regional Final held Tuesday 20 November. Annabel is pictured receiving her runner up certificate from Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle CBE DL, the Lord Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast.
However congratulations are extended to Theo Burton - Belfast Boys Model, one of this year's TABU students, who was successful in winning a place to Euroscola next February. Theo is pictured with his parents and is the new Interact Club of Belfast's Vice President!
Olivia Copeland, Methodist College
Olivia, now Deputy Head Girl, thanked the Club for the tremendous opportunity and noted that she had had her eyes opened at the range and diversity of Rotary projects. In a clear and well-spoken address she gave a detailed account of the visit and advised that the group of 24 had spent a few ‘initiation’ days in Belfast and Dublin before leaving for the European Parliament. She particularly highlighted her pride at the gasp of wonder from the group on the bus as they turned into the gates of Stormont and drove up the hill at the vision of it glittering in the sunlight against a bright blue sky.
She advised that they had been very lucky with great weather whilst in Strasbourg and that she had been particularly impressed by the Cathedral. The group had met up with the other students (500 in all) and were put into groups. Her group of 10 had Migration and Integration as their debate topic and their proposed policies were all passed! She revealed that she had been struck by the passion and open-mindedness of her colleagues and believes that although leaving the EU NI must now keep global connections and voice as being well informed helps the economy.
She concluded that hoping to read French and German at University her experience had broadened her horizons and that she would like to use her leadership, insight and languages to become involved in European business.
Thanking her President Mark noted that her presentation could be summed up using her own words “inspiring”, “memorable” and “passionate”.
Hannah Beattie, Victoria College
This Youth Development Programme started on Monday 30 January with a visit to Stormont where they met with representatives from 6 political parties followed by a visit to the EU offices in Dublin on Tuesday where they learnt about the scope of the work of the European Parliament. They travelled to Strasburg, via Frankfurt, for the Euroscola Day at the European Parliament on Thursday 02 February. When the party of 28 students from all over Ireland arrived they spent some time preparing the 6 topics that were chosen including Migration and Integration and Security and Human Rights. The students were split up into 6 working groups and mixed with other students from all over Europe to discuss the topics and present their thoughts on the policies which the EU should adopt. The party returned to Dublin on Friday 03 February.
The Club was delighted to welcome Hannah to the Club Monday 12 June. She thanked the Club for the tremendous opportunity noting that she had been delighted to be chosen and that it had been a lifetime experience. Her impressive and fluent report was very well received. Hannah gave a detailed account of the visit and advised that the group had spent a few days in Belfast and Dublin before leaving for the European Parliament on the Tuesday. Having had a tour of the city they got together the night before to work out their approach to the issues being discussed. The following day they joined up with the other students, 800 in all, from across Europe and were put into working groups. 
She advised that the working group chooses a spokesperson to present the conclusions of its discussions to the participants assembled in a 'plenary sitting' in the Chamber of the European Parliament at the end of the afternoon. The participants then vote on these conclusions and revealed that not only all 6 spokespeople were Irish but that all the questions raised were from the Irish students! Ireland, she claimed, was taking over Europe; so much so that the Parliament Chairman of the day asked if there was a non Irish question. A question was then asked in German but an Irish accent gave the questioner away! She concluded advising that unusually all 6 motions were passed.
Pointing out that a group of strangers had become a very close-knit unit in a few days she thanked the Club for the tremendous opportunity to learn policies and present in front of peers.
Thomas Copeland, Methodist College
This final was keenly contested and despite a strong performance Thomas was not successful. However he was very thankful to the Club for the opportunity as were the teachers who were involved.
Divya Puri, Victoria College
Rory Copeland, Methodist College
The other successful candidates were: Lauren Graham (nominated by the Belfast East Rotary Club) and Daniel Clarke (Rotary Club of Comber).
We were delighted to welcome Rory back in September 2013 to give a talk about his trip 3-8 March 2013. Now Head Boy at Methodist College Belfast, Rory spoke of his experiences during the trip. His presentation was well researched and delivered in a most impressive manner.
He highlighted that at the group's first meeting 3 March in Jury's Inn Belfast, when they met Peter Cardwell (an alumnus of GSE) who assured them of a very exciting week. Having visited Stormont, the European Offices in Belfast and Dublin, where they received their certificates from DG Jack Cunningham, they met in Dáil Eireann Simon Harris, TD (also a former GSE alumnus).
On March 7 in Strasburg Rory was elected Chairperson of the Agricultural Committee, he presented, and defended, the Committee's proposals to all the delegates which were passed with a majority of 211. The Rotary team "left exhausted, but in high spirits having been a dominant force in proceedings from start to finish".
Rory fielded questions from those present in an equally impressive way and was thanked and complimented by President Elect Ronnie McLean for his eloquent and well put together presentation.
He thanked Rotary, the team leaders led by District Governor Nominee Philip Beggs, the Club - particularly PP Brian Ferguson, for this "extraordinary", unforgettable" and "remarkable" experience.
The pupils were interviewed at the schools by Club members Michael Ridley, Denis Wilson, PP Trevor Hinds, PP Courtenay Thompson and PE Ken Morrison and 1 was selected from each school for the Club Final with interviewers Doris Houston, PP Albert Baird and PP Gordon MIllington. The Club would like to thank all those Rotarians who assisted in this process and gave willingly of their time to carry out interviews.
His full report as published by Methodist College can be seen here...
Cameron Chambers, RIBI
Reporting to the Club 23 April 2012 Cameron stated he was honoured to be one of the 6 chosen to present at the final Plenary Session. He demonstrated 'why' both in his presentation to the Club and in his handling of several questions from members.
Peter Erskine, Methodist College Belfast
Charlotte Higgins, Methodist College Belfast
Charlotte succeeded in winning a coveted Euroscala place, the other Regional winners being John Devlin, St. Colman's Collegen, Newry (nominated by Newry Club) and Kerri Stevenson, Down High School (nominated by Comber Club).