Glenullin Camóg wins Rotary Youth Leadership Competition

County Derry secondary school student, Aoife Dempsey was one of just 20 teenagers from all over the island of Ireland to be presented with a Rotary Youth Leadership Development certificate at Europe House in Dublin recently.

The competition, which Rotary Ireland has been running for over 30 years, rewards young people with clear leadership potential based on their extra-curricular activities.

Run in conjunction with the European Parliament Liaison Office in Dublin, the winners enjoy an all-expenses paid week-long trip to Belfast, Dublin and Strasbourg.

Aoife, who is a Year 13 student at Loreto College Coleraine, received her certificate from Rotary Ireland District Governor, Michael Fleming, and Fearghas Ó Béara, Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland.

The itinerary for the students’ trip included visits to Stormont, Dublin, and Strasbourg.

This year The Rotary YL Winners’ Trip differed to other years with everybody meeting on the Monday for registration, welcome and lunch at the Stormont Hotel Belfast. An excellent session was had with parents and family joining before it was time for goodbyes. The group then moved on to Stormont Buildings where Rotary had organised a Tour. The students met several politicians and also listened in on some debates from the visitors’ gallery. 

On Tuesday, at the ‘Europa Experience’ visitor centre in Chatham Street, Dublin, they immersed themselves in all things EU related including a 360-degree cinema presentation. The students heard some very interesting presentations on the EU and particularly the European Parliament’s role and powers, as well as about traineeships which are available with the EU institutions.

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After being presented with their leadership certificates, the students embarked on tours of the Seanad and Dail where they met several Ministers, TDs and senators.

Early the next morning they flew out to Strasbourg where they visited the famous Notre Dame Cathedral and enjoyed a private tour of the European Court of Human Rights.

On the penultimate day of their stay, they went to the European Parliament where they and students from all over Europe were welcomed by Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament. The highlight for the students was taking part in Euroscola, a simulation of the work of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in a debate and vote on the EU’s actions to tackle disinformation.

As a member of the Ulster Camogie Youth Council, Aoife works to promote visibility and equality in Gaelic games and to ensure all young girls who play are provided with the same opportunities as their male counterparts. She is also an active member of her community in Glenullin, for example helping to deliver meals to senior citizens from time to time and being a staff member of the community owned shop.

Having started playing camogie at age four, she has fallen in love with the sport and plays for Glenullin and on her school’s senior team. She is also involved in the SistersIN leadership programme which is designed to empower sixth-form schoolgirls and enhance their leadership shills through mentorship from female leaders.

She said she hoped to develop her interview skills and to learn more about how to prepare for an interview. “Talking about yourself is always uncomfortable, but it’s a necessary skill in life…I definitely improved my interview skills and my ability to answer questions directly whilst still linking to my prepared material. And I also learned how to calm my nerves.”

“The friendships I have formed with other students have made this experience the most enjoyable for me. I have made friends for life in so many other students, arriving knowing no one and leaving with 19 new best friends.”

“Additionally, being given the opportunity to speak in the European Parliament in Strasbourg was phenomenal. Standing up to speak in front of 700 of my peers and those watching online was so daunting, but I am proud of myself for stepping out of my comfort zone and raising my hand to be chosen by the Moderator.”

For Aoife, gender equality is key issue for young people today. “Especially for young women entering the workforce and potentially experiencing the pay gap and discrimination regarding time off, daily responsibilities and stereotypes. While this affects many women in the EU, those in less economically developed counties face life-limiting challenges, where their rights and dignity are stripped from them in inhumane displays of violence and inequality.”

“Furthermore, the violence against women epidemic in the North of Ireland is appalling. 98% of women in the North have faced discrimination due to their gender. This is simply unacceptable, and politicians need to step up to do more to tackle this issue.”

She would absolutely recommend the competition to all young people.

“This has been the best experience, and any young person would be incredibly lucky to take part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition. Regardless of the level of success, every applicant gains vital interview skills and experience, preparation skills and an awareness of the world around them because of research tasks carried out for their interview. Thank you, Rotary Ireland, for this amazing opportunity!”

Michael Fleming, District Governor of Rotary Ireland praised the students’ enthusiasm and willingness to engage with the programme.

“I have to compliment Aoife and all of this year’s winners on three counts. Firstly, for the wide range of sporting, artistic and community-based activities they are involved in. Secondly for the level of knowledge, they displayed on a wide range of topics, including European affairs. And thirdly for the extremely high standard of their contributions throughout the week of this trip.

“Aoife and the other students are a credit to themselves, their families, their schools and their communities. It was wonderful to watch this group work and socialise together, and we hope the bonds they formed this week will endure for a long time to come.

“I would like to thank all the teachers and Rotarians who helped us along the way to plan and organise this trip and I would urge as many young people as possible from every part of the island to take part in next year’s competition” Mr Fleming concluded.

Fearghas Ó Béara Head of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland said: "I was delighted to welcome this talented group of young leaders from across the island of Ireland to Europe House in Dublin before they set off on their journey to our Euroscola event at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. These students really made the most of their visit to our interactive 'Europa Experience' visitor centre, delving into the wealth of materials on the European Union and striking up lively discussions between themselves, and with our guides, about EU policies and actions.

“Their level of engagement and enthusiasm is impressive, and I really enjoyed my own exchange with them about Europe as a project of peace and reconciliation, and Ireland's place in it, especially given the many current geo-political challenges to our freedoms and democracy. I was impressed by how eloquently they expressed their views, and the relevance of their questions.

“The European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland is delighted to continue our partnership with Rotary Ireland and offer a prize for their Young Leaders competition of a sponsored visit to Strasbourg. I feel confident that our future is in safe hands with such socially engaged and politically curious young people like these winners."

The Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition is open to 16 and 17-year-olds who are living on the island of Ireland. For more information go to Rotary