My name is Orla Fitzgerald and I was a part of the YAEP programme with Phoenix, Arizona in 2010. Since my trip to the States I have kept in touch with a number of other Youth Ambassadors from my year and last week Kelsey McCauley came to visit us. She stayed for just under a week before she continued on with her travels to Morocco where she is currently studying abroad as part of her college course. We had a brilliant week and tried to show her as much of Ireland as possible over her short stay. Over the course of her trip we went to Galway, Dublin, Limerick, the Cliffs of Moher, Lahinch, Kilkee, The Burren and Dromoland Castle. Kelsey enjoyed her trip so much that she is considering coming back for a whole summer next year to work!

My brother Mark took part in the YAEP programme in 2007 and since his trip we have had four visits from Youth Ambassadors of his year come to stay with us, Diego Ezrre, Britt Nemetz, Taylor Bednarz and Marks host family’s daughter, Christina Dugan. He has also returned to visit friends in Phoenix three times since his initial trip.

The Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board has created friendships and linked people from opposite sides of the world together with its unique, once in a lifetime opportunity. My family and I felt like we should share this story with you as a way for everyone involved in making the trip happen hear that the benefits of the programme don’t end once you leave Phoenix, they continue to grow and provide more opportunities for years to follow.

Thank you for providing both my brother and I with this wonderful experience over the years. Enclosed are some photos of Kelsey and I on her recent stay.