EIL Intercultural Learning

The Irish Examiner (9 June, 2009) covers the EIL Travel Awards 2009 event in the article "Cork students to sample foreign cultures", by Stephen Rogers.

WHILE most alleviate the stress of exams with a sun holiday, 32 students were yesterday given their ticket to a summer with a difference.

The winners of the Cork-based EIL Intercultural Learning Travel Awards will be heading to such far off destinations as Mexico, South Africa and the US. However, they will not be whiling away the hours on the beaches of their host nation.

Rather their trips have been designed to challenge them, pushing them to their limits either physically, mentally or both.

From living with people with HIV and Aids in South Africa to surviving in the rainforest in Ecuador, they will be working hard throughout the summer months.

Judy Roche, chairwoman of the EIL Intercultural Learning, said: "The awards challenge young people to explore some of the most exciting cultures in the world in a responsible and meaningfull= way. The results can be life changing."

Ciara Cunningham from Roscommon will be travelling to South Africa. She said she and her fellow visitors to that country had attended an intensive workshop on HIV and AIDS which will be their focus during the trip.

"When we return we will be implementing a range of awareness-raising activities nationwide around these issues," she said.