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Ref: 165/08 14 May 2008

Cheshire Schools Meet Eu Ambassadors During
‘Europe Day’ Celebrations

Europe’s role in international aid and development was under the spotlight when two EU Ambassadors visited Cheshire Schools celebrating ‘Europe Day.’

Brussels – based Felicity Townsend and Mike San Agustin McCrea toured schools separately and then came together at Sandbach High School Sixth Form Centre for an event involving seven schools.

Presentations were carried out by students from Sandbach High School, Dorin Park School, Eaton Bank School, Dee Banks School, Queens Park High School, Malbank School and Sixth Form College and Ruskin Sports and Language College.

"Each school gave their own viewpoint on the EU’s role in international aid" said Children’s Services Executive member David Rowlands who opened the event.

"I would like to thank them for coming to see us so that they could tell us about their work and stimulate some very engaging questions and discussions amongst the students.

"This is the second occasion we have celebrated Europe Day and the event is growing in popularity with seven other schools that couldn’t be with us in the afternoon also exploring the theme of the EU’s work in international aid."

The event was organised by Cheshire County Council in co-operation with the European Commission as part of its Europe Direct Cheshire service.

Sandbach High’s Folk Group performed two South African songs, whilst other pupils talked about a DVD they had prepared about street children.

Dorin Park devised a dance event, Malbank High School showed a video of a play they had performed for one of the ambassadors and Queen’s Park High School compared their own school to that of one in Eritrea.

Dee Banks School shared their understanding of deforestation in Kenya, whilst Ruskin and Eaton Bank schools covered a variety of project work on education and environment themes that groups of students had undertaken.

Photo Caption: Robert Surrey, Dorin Park School, Chester, Aaron Moulton, Malbank High School, Nantwich, Jack Salmon, Queen’s Park High School, Chester, Felicity Townsend, European Commission, Europe Aid Office, Mike San Agustin McCrea, European Commission, External Relations, Ben Jones, Eaton Bank High School, Congleton, Molly Evans, Sandbach High School, Libby Harris, Ruskin High School, Crewe and Nathan Edwards, Dee Banks School, Chester.

Note To Editors: For more information please contact County Councillor Rowlands on 01244 300655 and Gill Alcock, County Council European Advisor on 01244 973091.