The Club has actively supported District’s flagship competition. The Youth Leadership Development Competition is one of Rotary’s longest-running youth projects, an all-Ireland annual event aimed at helping young people prepare for their future careers it rewards young people with clear leadership potential based on their extra-curricular activities. The winners are judged solely on their potential as leaders from over 2,000 applicants across Ireland. Following a series of interviews at Club and regional levels 24 winners are selected who, with three leaders, visit Stormont, the Dail, European Offices in Belfast and Dublin, meet Political leaders then the highlight is an all expenses trip to debate and present a variety of motions at Euroscola in the European Parliament in Strasburg with approximately 1,200 other students from Europe.

The Club thanks all members who give willingly of their time to carry out interviews.
The competition would not be possible without their support.

In District 1160 it is run with the assistance of the European Parliament Office in Dublin. The Club participates by inviting schools to nominate 6 students per school who will be 17 or younger by March of the competition year. Members interview these candidates at each school and select one to go forward to a Club final where one is selected for the area Regional Final (of which there are 8) where 3 winners are selected. This competition teaches interview skills, builds self-confidence and raises awareness of European Political and Policy issues and is aimed at helping young people prepare for their future careers. The winners are judged solely on their potential as leaders from around 1,800 applicants across Ireland.

The schools are all enthusiastic advocates of the competition and are well aware of the benefits to the students of both taking part and achieving success.

We are particularly pleased that in the last five years the Club’s nominee has won a coveted Euroscola place against finalists of the highest calibre: for the 2012 trip Cameron Chambers RIBI, 2011 Peter Erskine, Methodist College, 2010 Charlotte Higgins, Methodist College, 2009 Niamh O’Hara of St. Louise’s and going on next year's trip will be Rory Copeland Methodist College.

In 2010 The Rotary Club of Belfast were delighted to be invited to be one of the eight clubs (Belfast, Cookstown, Carrickfergus, Dublin Viking, Galway, Glanmire, Navan and Waterford) to host a Regional final to select 3 of the 24 Euroscola participants. Report here.

2013 Competition

During autumn 2012 we invited Belfast Schools to nominate for interviews 6 students aged 16-18 years of age. They were asked to submit standard application forms, which illustrated their personal achievements to date, work and leadership experience and gave examples of their planning and organisational skills. 

The Competition was well supported by the participating Belfast schools who are all enthusiastic advocates of the competition and appreciate the benefits to the students of both taking part and achieving success. The pupils were interviewed 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. 

Rory Copeland from Methodist College (left in pic below) was subsequently put forward to the Regional Finals held on 22 November 2012, hosted by the Donaghadee Club, at the Signal Centre of Excellence, Bangor. He faced competition from the nominees from the 8 Clubs - Bangor, Belfast East and West, Comber, Donaghadee, Lagan Valley, Lisburn and Newtownards.

To our delight he succeeded in winning a coveted Euroscola place. And for the fifth year in a row the Rotary Club of Belfast will be sending a winning student in the Youth Leadership Development Competition to the European Parliament! The other successful candidates were:  Lauren Graham (nominated by the Belfast East Rotary Club) and Daniel Clarke (Rotary Club of Comber).

Rory is a highly accomplished, well spoken young man who impressed with his extensive knowledge of Rotary and Europe. His academic achievements include excellent GCSE results and his recent work experience haas been in Solicitors' offices. He is a trustee of the NI Youth Forum and was selected to play the clarinet for the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra in June this year.

The 2013 trip will take place 3-8 March and the winners' journey will follow the usual pattern. Before heading off to Strasburg the 24 finalists meet for the first time in Belfast to learn about the government and culture in Northern Ireland meeting local political, business and charity leaders. They then travel on to Dublin for further meetings with leaders to learn about the Government and culture in the Republic. The group will also visit the European Parliament's office in Dublin to be briefed on the Parliament and the EU.  

We look forward to hearing his report to the Club later in 2013.
 

Youth leadership leads to...

Claire Savage, a participant in the Youth Leadership Programme a couple of years ago is now an active member of the Belfast Club.

See also

Youth Leadership Competitions 2012, 2011, 

Youth Leadership Competition 2010 Reports

District information on the Competition can be found by clicking on the image below.