This article is from page 19 of the 2014-06-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 19 JPG
TWO YOUTH Ambassadors from the US state of Arizona are settling in to Ennis life as part of the Ennis Phoenix Youth Ambassador Exchange Programme.
For three weeks each summer the exchange students will live with their host families and experience life of Irish teenagers in County Clare.
Seventeen year old Estefania Lopez and Emma Mertens were selected from hundreds of applicants to travel to Ireland as youth ambassadors from Phoenix.
During their time here they will learn to surf in Lahinch, Kayak in Killaloe, volunteer at the District Daycare Centre in Clarecastle and indulge in afternoon tea in Dromoland Castle.
They will also enjoy sporting and music activities and simply hanging out with their Irish peers.
The Youth Ambassador Programme is a popular initiative of the twinning relationship between Ennis and Phoenix.
The first student exchange was in 1992, and since then over 100 second level students have participated in the the annual exchange programme between Ennis and Phoenix.
In July the Ennis hosts Elana Bradley and Ailbhe Hogan both students at Colaiste Muire will travel to Phoenix as youth ambassadors.
While In Arizona the Ennis ambassadors will partake in a Grand Canyon adventure, visit Disneyland, attend an American Prom evening and do some community.
Elana and Ailbhe will also get to meet up with ambassadors from other Phoenix twinned cities in Canada, Mexico, Japan, Czech Republic, Israel, France, Italy, Taiwan and China.
Since the formation of the twin- ning relationship between Ennis and Phoenix in 1988, civic and community leaders from both sides of the Atlantic have visited each other and developed strong ties and personal friendships.
According to Cllr Mary Howard, who has served on the Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board since 2009;
“The Youth Ambassador Programme is a success thanks to the host families and to the young people themselves who represent their families and communities very well.
“These youngsters have gone on to make lasting friendships and Enns students get to represent their town on a global stage.”