Youth Leadership

The Club actively supports Rotary Ireland's flagship competition.

The Youth Leadership Development Competition, run with the assistance of the European Parliament Office in Dublin, 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. It teaches interview skills, builds self-confidence and raises awareness of European Political and Policy issues. The winners are judged solely on their potential as leaders from over 2,000 applicants across Ireland.

Club Candidates - see menu right

The Club participates by inviting schools to nominate for interview students who will be 18 or younger by March of the competition year. They are asked to submit standard application forms, which illustrate their personal achievements to date, work and leadership experience and gave examples of their planning and organisational skills. Members interview these candidates at each school and select those to go forward to a Club final where one is selected for the area Regional Final (of which there are 8) when 3 are selected to travel resulting in 24 finalists. The Club thanks all members who give willingly of their time to carry out interviews. The competition would not be possible without their support.

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 recent years the Club's nominees(see here) have, in the main,  won a coveted Euroscola place against finalists of the highest calibre. 

We are always delighted to welcome back to the Club the nominees to hear their report.

2020 Club nominee was Mia Jackson, Methodist College 

Mia was successful in the Youth Leadership Development Zone Final held Tuesday 26 November in the Stormont Hotel and was one of the 24 travelling to the European Parliament 02-07 February 2020. 

Sadly with Club meetings currently halted it was not possible to welcome Mia to the Club to hear her report but it can be seen here.

No competitions were held for 2021 or 2022.

 The Trip

Before heading off to Strasburg, the 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 also visit the European Parliament's offices in Belfast and Dublin to be briefed on the Parliament and the EU. The highlight is an all expenses trip to debate a variety of motions at Euroscola in the European Parliament in Strasburg with approximately 1,200 other students from Europe. 

European Parliament top Image attribution: Image by wirestock