Sacred Heart Students attend European Youth Parliament 2016

The European Youth Parliament (EYP) is a non-partisan and independent educational project run by the Schwarzkopf Foundation which is tailored specifically to the needs of young European citizens.
EYP encourages independent thinking and socio-political initiative in young people and facilitates the learning of crucial social and professional skills. Since its inauguration, many tens of thousands of young people have taken part in regional, national and international sessions, formed friendships and made international contacts across and beyond borders. The European Youth Parliament has thus made a vital contribution towards uniting Europe.

The aims of the European Youth Parliament are to:
- Raise awareness of European issues, encourage active European citizenship and motivate young people to get involved in European politics.
- Promote international understanding, intercultural dialogue and diversity of ideas and practices.
- Contribute to the personal skills development of European youth.
- Provide a forum in which young people of Europe can express their own opinions, without reverting to role play.

 Munster Regional Session Jan 22nd -24th 2016

Six students from Sacred Heart attended this session including 5th year students Elsa Harte, Méabh McSweeney and Orla Finnerty and 4th year students Kate Burke, Grace Keane O’Conner and Lola DeFolurunso. Over 100 delegates attended this session under the theme “Europe in The Wider World”. Orla Finnerty, Kate Burke and Grace Keane O’Conner were selected from Sacred Heart to represent Munster at the national session.

   National Session March 19th -22nd 2016

Three students from Sacred Heart attended this session including 4th year students Kate Burke and Grace Keane O’Conner and 5th year student Orla Finnerty. The theme of this session was “Remembering our country’s past, Imagining our continents future” 32 delegates were chosen from this session to represent Ireland internationally in the upcoming international sessions. Orla Finnerty will represent Sacred Heart and is now an alumni for EYP Ireland. As an alumni, she will be able to attend many international sessions as an Irish delegate and will also be able to organise the regional and national sessions in any member state through an application process.