2008 EIL Travel Awards Winners Announced!

The winners of EIL Travel Awards 2008 to Japan, USA, Ecuador, Argentina, Mexico, South Africa, Nigeria, Hong Kong and Germany have been announced.

EIL Network Week-end April 2008

          EIL volunteers, board members and staff gathered in Dublin for the week-end of April 19 and 20th to select the winners of the 2008 EIL Travel Awards and to take part in a variety of development education workshops. On Saturday a short list of 41 Travel Award finalists took part in discussions, interviews and workshops with over 30 previous participants. At the end of the day 15 people were selected to travel to Nigeria, South Africa, Japan, Hong Kong, Ecuador, Mexico, Argentina and the USA on a variety of volunteer and cultural exchange programmes. (Click on the picture to view it full size)

Hong Kong Youth Delegation Visit Ireland

          The Lord Mayor of Cork received participants on the Hong Kong / Ireland Youth Exchange Programme on August 24. Organised jointly by The Hong Kong Commission on Youth and EIL Intercultural Learning 9 young people from Hong Kong have visited Ireland. In September 9 young Irish people will travel to Hong Kong for 12 days.

EIL Celebrates its 75th Birthday!

          EIL celebrated its 75th birthday with a big party in Berlin on May 5th 2007. Founded in 1932 as The Experiment in International Living (EIL) it is the oldest educational exchange organisation in the world and involves up to 40,000 people on educational travel programmes across the world each year. The organisation has Consultative Status at The Council of Europe and The United Nations Economic and Social Council and was designated a "Peace Messenger Organisation" by The United Nations in 1989. For more information on EIL worldwide please see http://www.experiment.org

          Over 200 people from 27 different countries attended the 75th birthday celebrations in Berlin on May 5th. Among the attendance were 10 people from Ireland which included volunteers, members of the board and staff from EIL Ireland. The President of the EIL Worldwide Federation is currently Irish. Kevin Hickey who is Director EIL Ireland is also the President of Federation EIL.

Kevin Hickey (President of Federation EIL/Director of EIL Ireland) addressing the gathering	Some of the attendance at the 75th Anniversary Birthday Celebration

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EIL Volunteers gather to select 2007
Travel Award Winners

          Up to 40 EIL returned volunteers and leaders attended the EIL Spring Network Week-end in Dublin on April 21st and 22nd last. A further 40 young people joined the group on Saturday to take part in the final selection of the EIL Travel Award Recipients for 2007. Participants were selected to travel to Ecuador, Mexico. Japan, Argentina and Vermont in the USA on fully funded travel awards. A further five people were also selected to travel to South Africa, Hong Kong, Mexico, Japan and Ecuador on a new fully funded award programme directed at disadvantaged schools and University Access programmes. On Saturday night the group attended the African production of "The Dilemma of a Ghost" at The Project Arts Centre, Temple Bar. On Sunday Anne Reilly of The Debt and Development Coalition Ireland a very high energy and interactive workshop on how debt and poverty are connected! All returned EIL volunteers are participants are invited to join the EIL Network.

EIL Annual General Meeting and Network Week-end

           As well as people from all over Ireland special guests from Zambia and Germany attended the EIL Annual General meeting and Network Week-end in Cork on November 19th. In honour of their visit Paul Conway (Chairperson of EIL Ireland) made a special presentation of an Oxfam Fair Trade hamper to Bettina Wiedmann, Director of EIL Germany. The Zambian visitors helped teach the Irish participants how to play African drums on Saturday night and on Sundaylead a special workshop on life for young people in Zambia with a special focus on the problems associated with HIV/AIDS.

          Hong Kong has not yet been invaded by masses of package tourists and it still holds its distinctive charm. This allowed us nine Irish people experience the ultimate culture shock! The ten-day trip to Hong Kong from start to finish was truly the most breath-taking and unforgettable ten days of my life. We really experienced the best of life in Hong Kong. From the bustling markets to the peaceful and magical temples, from karaoke to the Hong Kong races, from universities to the Big Buddha. I really feel that we saw the best of Hong Kong. Hong Kong has huge differences in itself as well as with Ireland. I noticed huge divisions in the city both extremes of wealth and poverty, vibrant streets, picturesque countryside. I felt that Hong Kong was a contrasting city from every aspect. Enormous shopping centres and run down dilapidated buildings all situated on the same street. Hidden bays and spectacular views were all to be see…… A city which moves at such a rapid pace, yet seemed to stand still from the distance of the peak.

          Both day and night Hong Kong was an amazing place. A city so colourful and lit up with a magical and friendly atmosphere, we experienced some of the most simple cultural differences with things like food and transport. Many of these cultural shocks often appeared at mealtimes. Traditional delicacies of goose and chicken brains, octopus, shark, sushi and hotpot were presented with course after course of other different, yet interesting Chinese foods. These were all to be eaten with the scary and challenging “chopsticks”.

          I also noticed the extremely effective and efficient transport facilities in Hong Kong. The underground tube, the star ferry, trams, trains and buses. They were all excellent methods of controlling the huge commuting population in Hong Kong. Not only does Hong Kong have enormous advancements in technology but also some practical problem solving. Hong Kong seems to be a city which never sleeps with a hardworking and creative population.

          During my visit to Hong Kong I met some of the most kind and thoughtful people ever and experienced the different cultures and adventures of Hong Kong. We did some things which a tourist would never do. I think that was the highlight. I really enjoyed visiting the schools, universities and social centers. This allowed us get a deeper feel for the place and meet some of the local people on a personal level. The whole experience has given me a different outlook on the world. I now have a hunger to learn more about different cultures and continents and travel further around the world.