Tanya attends European Parliament ESAP Seminar in Brussels

Pic: European Parliament Ambassador School Programme.

Local woman Tanya Flanagan recently attended the annual seminar in Brussels for Senior Ambassadors in the European Parliament Ambassador Schools Programme, writes Brian Byrne.

She is a teacher at St Farnan's Post Primary School in Prosperous, which is one of more than 70 Irish schools taking part in the programme. CPC in Kilcullen is also involved in the initiative.

The second level schools scheme is aimed at raising awareness amongst pupils of European parliamentary democracy and European citizenship values and is suitable for Transition Year students.

A series of classroom resources are made available through which the teachers trained as Senior Ambassadors take the students through the programme.

Junior Ambassadors are selected for showing enthusiasm and involvement in the programme throughout the year and receive a Junior Ambassador Certificate. Other students completing the programme receive a Certificate of Participation.

Junior Ambassadors set up an EU Info Point which may be web-based or on school premises. They also organise Europe Day events such as an Europe-related music festival, food tasting day, or debate on a European issue.

They are also encouraged to twin through digital platforms with with other schools in the programme across the EU. They can also follow the proceedings of the European Parliament on Twitter and Facebook.

Teachers receive training and an EPAS Handbook that introduces them to the role.

During her visit to Brussels, Tanya met with the former mayor of Saint-Contest in Normandy, the town with which Kilcullen was twinned earlier this year. Stephanie Yon was leader of the twinning delegation to Kilcullen, and was subsequently elected to the European Parliament.

Tanya also met with several Irish MEPs during her visit.

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