Ecuadorian prize for student Gary

On June 24, 2009 The Wicklow People covered Gary Finnerty's story in the article Ecuadorian prize for student Gary. Gary is one of the winners of EIL Travel Awards 2009 and he is now in Ecuador. He will spend five weeks in Ecuador this summer.

By Deborah COLEMAN
Wednesday June 24 2009

A LUCKY South Wicklow secondary school student has been selected to go on the trip of a lifetime for five weeks during the summer holidays.

Gary Finnerty from Boley, Shillelagh, has been announced as one of the winners of the EIL Travel Awards 2009 and will soon jet off to Ecuador on the Travel Awards Programme.

A fifth year student in Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, Gary is delighted to be setting out on the trip which will offer him many new experiences including living with a local family and working within the community.

'In Ecuador I will encounter a variety of experiences,' he told The Wicklow People, 'from staying with a local family and doing community work in Riobamba to trekking through the Amazon rainforest. I'm really looking forward to this incredible trip. It will be challenging given it's a totally different culture to here in Ireland but I'm still looking forward to it and the experiences it will bring.'

EIL Intercultural Learning is an Irish 'not for profit' organisation which provides intercultural learning opportunities for applicants through study abroad, volunteering, cultural activities and language training.

Gary was just one of 29 people selected throughout the country following his application to EIL earlier this year.

- Deborah COLEMAN