March was an exciting month for the Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel, with the group getting the opportunity to travel to Brussels from Tuesday, April 21st, to Thursday, April 24th, for an exciting visit to the European Parliament.
We were thrilled to be hosted by MEP Maria Walsh, who met with the panel to hear their views on the issues affecting young people in Ireland today and gave the ambassadors a tour of the parliament, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness democracy in action in the heart of our European democracy.
The Youth Ambassadors had the opportunity to meet and receive career advice from three inspiring people who have each taken unique paths to work in the European Parliament. These included Michael Scanlon from the VISSEM Centre, Deirdre O’Hea, former Head of Cabinet to Mairead McGuinness, who now works in the European Parliament’s Internal Bureau, and Niall Thompson, Head of Support in the Parliament’s IT Department.
The group also visited the European Youth Forum to participate in a discussion on the most pressing issues faced by young people today. The European Youth Forum is the largest platform for youth organisations, representing millions of young people across Europe. The forum empowers youth to actively engage in society, advocate for their rights, and improve their lives.
Ambassador Conor Dillon, who works with the Irish Wheelchair Association, was excited for the opportunity to visit Brussels: “The European Parliament has been on my bucket list for a very long time. It’s nice to finally see it in person instead of on TV!”
The Youth Ambassadors who attended the trip included Aoibhinn Coffey, Caoilfhinn Young, Divine Eugene, Ebunoluwa Jamgbadi, Eoin Moylan, Killian Burke, and Sonya Naumova.
A big thank you to Maria Walsh and her team for hosting us on this unforgettable trip.
