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Young ambassadors a long way from Arizona


Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board members Pat Collins, Councillor Mary Howard and Davnet Dwyer look on as Phoenix youth ambassadors Susan Valdeze Villarreal and Kaitlyn Stiles and Ennis representatives Louise Kelly and Muireann O’Shea step it out with Mayor of Ennis Michael Guilfoyle during an event to mark their visit to Ennis.   Photograph John Kelly
TWO youth ambassadors from the US state of Arizona are settling into Ennis life as part of the Ennis-Phoenix Youth Ambassador Exchange programme. For three weeks in June, they will live with their host families and experience the life of Irish teenagers in County Clare.

Seventeen-year-old Kaitlyn Stiles and 16-year-old Susan Valdez-Villarreal 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 and to kayak in Killaloe.  The girls met with the Mayor of Ennis, will help out in the Clarecastle Daycare Centre 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 has been a very popular initiative of the twinning relationship between Ennis and Phoenix. Since 1988, over 100 second level pupils have participated in annual exchange programmes between the two areas. 
In July, the Ennis hosts Muireann O’Shea and Louise Kelly, both students at Coláiste 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 work. Muireann and Louise will also get to meet up with ambassadors from other Phoenix-twinned cities in Canada, Italy, China, Israel, France, Mexico, Japan, the Czech Republic and Taiwan.
TJ Waters, chairperson of the Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board, said, “We are delighted to welcome Kaitlyn and Susan as youth ambassadors from Phoenix. The twinning relationship between Ennis and Phoenix has been very beneficial in terms of enterprise, culture, education and community.”
Since the formation of the twinning 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. Over the years, political and business leaders, arts and cultural representatives, technical experts, teachers and students have participated in regular exchanges.
According to Councillor Mary Howard, who is also a member of the twinning board, “The youth ambassador programme is a great 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 Ennis students get to present their town on a global stage.”
A new website has also been launched to highlight the twinning arrangement with the support of Acton|BV, the Ennis-based website development company.
Log on to www.ennisphoenix.com to find out more about the work of the Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board or check out the Ennis Phoenix Facebook page.

 

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