Youth Opportunities

Anstruther Rotarians seek to raise awareness of the rich opportunities offered to promote community service, work towards greater international understanding, identify and develop the leaders of tomorrow and recognise and celebrate the achievements of young people.

Throughout the world, Rotary offers many avenues including 'Interact clubs', 'Youth Exchange', 'Ambassadorial Scholarships', 'Rotary youth Leadership Awards' and 'Euroscola'

 

All aimed to enable young people of all ages to enjoy the challenges offered and to develop strong bonds of friendship with other young people.

 

To help articulate and realise hopes, dreams and expectations.

 

Euroscola 

Each year Euroscola welcomes thousands of students aged between 16 to 18 years old from all 28 European Union Members States to spend a day in Strasbourg and become Members of the European Parliament. Students experience a day as an MEP, engaging in the EU decision-making through debates in the hemicycle, negotiations with their colleagues, voting and adopting resolutions on topical European issues. 

It gives students the opportunity to interact and exchange information in a foreign language and also highlights the importance of cross-cultural cooperation. Furthermore, students are given the possibility to introduce their school and the region where they come from, which provides for greater diversity and enriches the cultural dialogue.

There are approximately 20 Euroscola sessions per year in Strasbourg, which attract around 10,000 students annually. 
 

For whom?

The Euroscola project is designed for students aged between 16 to 18 years old from all 28 European Union Members States.

Participation is awarded to schools making it through a national competition organized by the European Parliament Information Office in each Member State. Successful candidates get an important subsidy towards the cost of their journey to Strasbourg. To be able to take an active part, the 500 participating students prepare themselves in their schools months ahead and come to Strasbourg already acquainted with the issues up for discussion.

Goals?

The participating students get an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the workings of the European institutions, to discuss democracy, fundamental rights, European values and to express their personal opinions on the decisions taken at the European Union level.

The students get the unique opportunity to experience EU decision making in the form of a multilingual European Youth Parliament. 

Euroscola allows these students to get together, debate, take sides, negotiate, amend, vote and finally adopt resolutions on real European issues.

 

 

 

Pictured below is Katie O'Donnell who was sponsored by Anstruther club to attend 'EuroScola 2013'. Katie, who is deputy head girl at Waid Academy, visited Strasbourg from the 22nd to the 27th February as part of the EuroScola programme. It included time at the European Parliament. The selection process is demanding and Katie was competing against a record 42 final-year students from secondary schools across Scotland, with a final group being selected to join a total of 500 young people from 23 European member states. Also shown is Katie's group in Strasbourg and in the European Parliament building. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured above is St Monans pupil Leah Stephen (P5/6) with Teacher Kay Marshall.

Leah was the winner of the Anstruther round of the Young Photographer of the Year Competition 2012 with her entry “Last sign of Winter”

 

 

 

President Derek Mathie is pictured here with winners at the Rotary Young Musician competition local heat - from L to R Amy Young, Beth McConnachie and Erin Spence.
Amy and Erin will now represent Anstruther Rotary Club at the District Competition on 3rd March in Perth.

 

 

Youth is our future - there is no alternative!