Local youths tour British Isles

Staff report

youngstown

Ten local youths from area high schools joined another 10 from Akron and toured the British Isles for three weeks.

They left in mid-June and returned July 7. They are part of the thousands of students who have experienced the People to People Student Ambassador program, started by President Eisenhower in 1956 as a way to encourage world peace and understanding among its people.

Students were selected based on recommendations from teachers, administrators, local leaders and alumni of the program.

During their 19-day adventure, they visited England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, with two-day homestays in Ireland.

Among the activities were visits to Parliament and meeting with a member, St. Andrews Golf Course, talks with college students who were part of “The Problem” tensions in Northern Ireland, repelling down a castle wall, riding an Irish “jaunty cart,” local culture events and cutting peat for winter fuel for the elderly.

Gary Reel is a veteran leader of this program, having taken groups to Australia, China, Russia, Europe and the British Isles since 1994.

Details on the program, applications and nominations are available online at www.peopletopeople.com. Next year’s destination will be the capitals of Europe.