Rotarian Youth Visit to Netherlands 2006

ROTARY CLUB OF ESK VALLEY NEWS RELEASE

MIDLOTHIAN YOUNGSTERS ENJOY DUTCH TRIP

Eleven Midlothian youngsters have just returned from a highly enjoyable four day exchange trip to the Netherlands, which was organised by the Rotary Club of Esk Valley as part of their friendship arrangement with a Dutch Rotary Club. 

The youngsters visited the town of Zierikzee, which is located on the island of Schouwen-Duiveland in the south-west corner of the Netherlands.   This part of the Netherlands is called Zeeland and is a river delta where three European rivers (among them the Rhine) come together.   The island has a population of 30,000 people, with about 10,000 of them living in Zierikzee, and is linked to the mainland by causeways. 

As part of their programme, the youngsters were welcomed to the area at a reception hosted by the town's mayor.   Other activities included an informative visit to one of the network of dams protecting Zeeland from the North Sea and its associated theme park, a trip on a large sailing barge, a visit to a local school, and a morning spent sailing dinghies.   In between, the youngsters also enjoyed fun activities such as a visit to a funfair, a bicycle treasure hunt (on tandems!!), and a barbeque. 

The youngsters stayed at the homes of Dutch Rotarians and as a result were able to participate in 'ordinary' Dutch life. 

Scott Murray, a member of Esk Valley Rotary Club who was very much involved in the organisation of the trip, said,   "The aim of this exchange trip was to allow Midlothian youngsters to experience, at first hand, the lifestyles of Dutch youths of similar ages and to make friends and acquaintances.   They say that travel broadens the mind and I am sure this has applied in this case, with our youngsters gaining an increased understanding of how Dutch people, and in particular youths, live.   In addition, all the youngsters really enjoyed the trip and I believe will have made lasting friendships with their Dutch host families and other people they met during their stay.   They were fantastic ambassadors for Midlothian and I would like to thank them and their adult supervisors, Audrey Lenaghan and Gillian Cassidy, for the excellent way in which they conducted themselves during the trip."

Photograph shows Midlothian and Dutch youngsters on a large sailing barge.