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EIL Intercultural Learning, 1 Empress Place, Summerhill North, Cork, Co. Cork, Republic of Ireland 1 of 6

Access Student Travel Awards 2015 Nomination Form

Pages 1 and 2 are to be completed by an Access Officer, professor, youth worker or similar professional. Pages 3-5 are to be completed by the nominated student. The completed application form is to be returned to the following address: EIL Intercultural Learning, 1 Empress Place, Summerhill North, Cork

Personal Details of Nominee Your Personal Details

Name: Name:

Address: Address:

Main occupation in nominees household: Occupation:

Mobile: Phone:

E-mail: Mobile:

Date of birth: Male Female E-mail:

Age as of 1 June 2015: How do you know the nominee?

Name and address of college or Institute of Technology

Name: How long have you known the nominee?

Address:

What travel experience abroad does your nominee have?

Class/year/field of study:

EIL Intercultural Learning, 1 Empress Place, Summerhill North, Cork, County Cork, Republic of Ireland 2 of 6

To nominate someone for one of these travel opportunities, please tell us some information about the nominee. We are interested in how long you have known them, why they impress you, what are their achievements, voluntary involvements, future plans, hobbies, etc. This award is intended for participants who would not ordinarily have the financial means to fund such an experience. With this in mind, please also provide some background information on why you feel the nominee merits this award and how you feel he or she would benefit from it.

Declaration: I hereby nominate the above person for consideration for a fully-funded EIL Travel Award. I confirm that all of the information given above is true to the best of my knowledge and I have read and fully accept the terms and conditions as outlined below

Signed: ________________________________ Date: _________________ Terms and conditions

Nominations should only be made with the fullpermission of the young person involved.

Nominee must be currently enrolled in a University/ITfull time Access programme.

Shortlisting may take place and interviews will beconducted prior to final selection.

Each successful applicant must complete all necessarysupplementary application forms as required by EIL.

Each successful applicant will be required to submit amedical form completed by his/her GP. Please note that having a condition may not necessarily exclude theapplicant

Candidates will need to demonstrate an appropriatelevel of maturity and responsibility in order to participate.

All persons making nominations and all the applicantsagree to accept the decision of the EIL adjudication panel as final.

Selected participants shall forfeit their Award shouldthey not be able to fully participate in the programme onall the dates as specified including pre-departureorientation sessions in Cork. and/or should they befound unfit to travel by a medical practitioner.

A separate form must be completed for each personbeing nominated.

The applicant must not be younger than 18 or olderthan 26 on 1 June 2015.

Entries must include this fully completed applicationform. Closing date for receipt of hard copy entries is12 noon Tuesday 10th March 2015.*

*If you are submitting your hard copy application by post very close tothe deadline, we require you to post original in any An Post letter-box/office up until Tuesday 10th March 2015 and email a full scanned copy of the entry to info@eilireland.org before 12 noon Tuesday 10th March 2015.

Shortlisted candidates must be available for interviewSat 28th March 2015 in Dublin

Winners will be announced in April 2015The final application must include the form overleaf which is to be completed by the person you are nominating

for this award.

EIL Intercultural Learning, 1 Empress Place, Summerhill North, Cork, Ireland 3 of 6

To be completed by the nominee for the ACCESS Travel Award

In not more than 600 words, please explain why you are motivated to apply for this award, what you think you could contribute to a volunteer project and how you would hope to benefit from the programme.

EIL Intercultural Learning, 1 Empress Place, Summerhill North, Cork, Ireland 4 of 6

Terms and Conditions

Shortlisting may take place and interviews will beconducted prior to final selection.

Each successful applicant must complete all necessarysupplementary application forms as required by EIL.

Applicants need to demonstrate an appropriate level ofmaturity and responsibility in order to participate.

Selected participants shall forfeit their Award shouldthey not be able to fully participate in the programme onall the dates as specified including the pre-departureorientation in Cork and/or should they be found unfit totravel by a medical practitioner.

All applicants agree to accept the decision of the EILadjudication panel as final.

Shortlisted candidates must be available for interviewSat 28th March 2015 in Dublin

Winners will be announced in April 2015.

Declaration: I confirm that all of the information given above is true to the best of my knowledge and I have read and fully accept the terms and conditions as outlined above.

Signature: _____________________________________________ Date: _________________

5 of 6EIL Intercultural Learning, 1 Empress Place, Summerhill North, Cork, Ireland

As part of your application, we would like you to outline an Action Project you would do if successful.

Selected participants must complete an Action Project. This aims to: ! Help you to get the most out of your experience enrich your life ! Encourage you to give back be a Global Citizen Types of Projects include:

Explore a project that looks at similarities and differences, and what we canlearn from other cultures. Take part and talk with your community on topics like traditions, celebrations, a typical day or food.

Connect a project that links people and communities. If youre interest ineducation, interview a teacher abroad and a teacher in your own community. Maybe musicians, engineers, sports teams, grandparents, local politicians!

Voice a project that allows you take a social issue and be a voice for the peopleyou have met and if you think it necessary advocate for change on their behalf.

The Action Project is divided into three distinct stages. Each stage is important.

Stage 1: Before you leave. ! Design and plan your project ! Identify the type of project ! (Explore, Connect, Voice) ! Research a topic to focus on when abroad ! (e.g. food & culture, young people & community, role of women in society etc) ! Choose how you will share your experience ! (e.g. write, photograph, video, artwork, drama, music etc)

Stage 2: During your experience abroad. ! Talk to members of your host community (family, teachers, leaders etc) ! Gather photos, notes, video and artifacts on your chosen topic ! Explore and develop your topic. Review your original plan, even change direction! Stage 3: On your return home. ! Use your experience and gathered stories/photos etc to share your learning with your local

community. ! Your audience can be your family, friends, school, place of work, local community, media or anybody you can convince to listen to the story you have to tell.

Note: If you are shortlisted and invited to interview for the Award, we may ask about your outline for your Ac-tion Project.For more information, samples and tips check out:

www.eilireland.org/travel-awards/tips-for-applicants

Please complete the following page and submit as part of your application

Your Action Project

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Outline for my Action Project(My ideas and the methods I will use)

Applicants name: _________________________________

TYPE OF PROJECT (the which) The type of project I am interested is. (Please circle one)

Explore Connect Voice

TOPIC OF INTEREST (the what and the why) The topic I am interested in concentrating on during my Action Project is.

OUTLINE (the how, when and where) I plan on carrying out my Action Project by.

Personal Details of Nominee: Your Personal Details: Name: Name_2: AddressRow1: AddressRow4: AddressRow1_2: AddressRow1_4: AddressRow2: AddressRow2_2: AddressRow3: AddressRow3_2: MainOccupationhousehold: OccupationMain occupation in nominees household: Mobile: Phone: Email: Mobile_2: Date of birth: Group6: Choice2

Email_2: Age as of 1 June 2015: How do you know the nomineeName and address of college or Institute of Technology: Name_3: How long have you known the nomineeAddress: AddressRow1_3: AddressRow2_3: What travel experience abroad does your nominee haveRow1: What travel experience abroad does your nominee haveClassyearfield of study: Classyearfield of studyRow1: What travel experience abroad does your nominee haveRow3: To nominate someone for one of these travel opportunities please tell us some information about the nominee We are interested in how long you have known them why they impress you what are their achievements voluntary involvements future plans hobbies etc This award is intended for participants who would not ordinarily have the financial means to fund such an experience With this in mind please also provide some background information on why you feel the nominee merits this award and how you feel he or she would benefit from itRow1: Signed: Date: In not more than 600 words please explain why you are motivated to apply for this award what you think you could contribute to a volunteer project and how you would hope to benefit from the programmeRow1: My motivation in applying for this award is derived from a love of helping people, volunteering, traveling and a real interest in learning and experiencing new cultures and meeting new people. Voluntary work is something which I feel very passionate about as I strongly believe that it forms an essential component of civic society and makes a meaningful contribution to those who are most at need. Additionally traveling particularly to countries with vastly different cultures and societal norms is both an enriching and educational experience. Traveling to these countries is thoroughly a rewarding experience and provides one with the opportunity for complete cultural emersion and the chance to broaden ones horizons. As a Trinity access-student, I realise that Im very fortunate to be where I am and therefore I feel its incumbent on me to make a difference. This would provide me with a wonderful opportunity to make that positive societal contribution while also having the privilege of gaining invaluable experience in learning about cultural and societal norms. Volunteering abroad has always been a dream of mine and this life-changing experience could make that dream a reality. Secondly Im applying for this award as I have the necessary experience, skills and personal characteristics which make me a suitable candidate for this program. In terms of my personal characteristics, I interact very well with everyone, Im very sociable, outgoing, very approachable, and egar to help others as much as possible. Im highly motivated and driven to succeed and therefore in every aspect of work, university life or in any other initiative I ensure that I give 100% commitment despite any obstacles or challenges that may present itself. I feel this is demonstrated in the fact that Ive not left a significant visual impairment prevent me from achieving in higher education in the world of work, in travelling or in participating in the civic and social sphere. My love of volunteering goes back to my time in secondary-school. Initially I found school quiet difficult and felt that higher-education wasnt for me. However, I was exceptionally fortunate that I had a special-needs-assistant and vice-principal that instilled the importance of education and informed me of the various financial and academic supports that were available that would help me overcome my fears. This positive experience inspired me to excel at my work but also to set up an initiative intended to encourage students like myself to become more interested and thus stay in school longer. As I went to a deis or disadvantaged school, many social problems were evident. One such problem was the issue of school-attendance, as I saw many of my friends frequently not attending, I decided to approach my teacher about setting up an after-school extra-curricular activity once a week that could coincide with after-school study. The after-school activity was successful in getting these students more interested in school activities and in part played a minor contribution in encouraging students to attend more often. I continued my volunteering when I came to university through my active participation on society committees and also campaigning on social-issues such as gender-equality in Student-Union referendums. Being on these committees and helping with such events required teamwork, individual responsibility, and leadership. Such skills I feel I can offer to this program If Im successful. One of the most valuable experiences which has played a fundamental role in molding me into the person I am today was the 3 months which I spent working in America. The J1 program provided me with the opportunity to live independently abroad and to get invaluable experience in working in a skilled professional job as a service coordinator for CIEE, one of the largest NGOs in the world. As part of my wonderful experience, I was working and living with colleagues. As part of my remit, I was responsible for providing a service to participants in ensuring that they integrate into life, work and travel in the States. In this environment I excelled both working individually and as part of a team and this is something I strongly bleive that I can bring to this program. While I gained considerable formal experience through my work in dealing with international exchange students from various countries, I feel I gained the most in the time which I spent with my co-workers as I learned so much about their distinct cultures and norms extending to and beyond the Middle, East, Asia, and Eastern Europe. As a result of the time spent socially interacting, living and and working with such interesting and diverse people, I have gained a multicultural prospective and could make a meaningful contribution to the program. As someone who particularly interested in helping students with disabilities from disadvantaged backgrounds to progress in higher education and in the world of work. I volunteered in Trinity with the disability service over the summer. In particular I assisted with induction of incoming first years by speaking with students and parents and telling them about my experiences to date. Additionally I've used social media to spread this message by participating in a video for the Disability-Access-Route-to-Education(DARE). The video was aimed at young people in secondary school and was shown during college awareness week. It was intended to get young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with a disability to consider higher-education as a real possibility for them. Since Ive came to college Ive been a very active campaigner on issues of equality, social justice and in particular the area of uuman rights. Ive been especially active in volunteering with the Ireland-Palestine-Solidarity-Campaign and spent much of my free time over the summer volunteering in their office and assisting other volunteers with the considerable workload. This travel award presents a wonderful opportunity to have a life-changing experience while volunteering and making a difference. Due to financial constraints and my visual impairment it means that many mainstream volunteer opportunities would be otherwise unavailable. The area of Human-Rights and the Non-Profit sector is my main passion in life and I aspire to work in this sector in the future, this travel-award would facilitate personal and professional development. More specifically it offers the chance to build upon skills relevant to this area while learning about a new country and culture. The chance to meet new people from vastly different cultures can offer an important insight into life in their respective country, also gaining a more nuanced and international prospective. Therefore I see Explore, Connect, and Voice as mentioned in the action-project as being inextricably linked. If selected I will be a model a mbassador for EIL before during, and after my experience. I will combine the necessary skills and personal characteristics along with dedication to my work to ensure that I maximize my experience and contribution to the project. Additionally if selected I will utilize the experience from volunteering abroad to continue my voluntary work back in Ireland. Date_2: Applicants name: Anthony CurranThe topic I am interested in concentrating on during my Action Project is: My ideal action project would be equality and social-justice themed in south America e.g Argentina. My project in particular would focus on the vulnerable position of minority groups and / or those who are suffering the most from the adverse effects of poverty. I want to play my part in advocating for those without a voice and bring the skills which I would have learned back to Ireland to continue my voluntary work in the area of poverty eradication. In particular I'm especially interested in the role which education plays in facilitating social mobility and helping those escape poverty. I srongly believe that issues of social justice and inequality would provide the basis for a meaningful and rewarding project. Such a project provides the opportunity for significant personal development by learning from those around you and by developing an understanding and appreciation of a different culture, beliefs and societal norms. One of the main advantages I've identified with this type of project means that it offers the individual to combine the three aspects of explore, connect, and voice. Therefore providing one with a holistic understanding of the different aspects of a country and it's society. I plan on carrying out my Action Project by: While I've selected Voice as my prefered option I see explore and connect as forming an important part of the overall process. As living and volunteering in a different country provides the opportunity to connect with people and learn from them and their culture. Consequently I would be in an ideal position to utilise this knowledge and insight to help those around me by speaking out on their behalf. As indicated the project will be broken down into a plan of action containing clearly defined steps at each stage in the process. The preperation stage will in most part include research into the distinct culture and societal norms of the country. In particular I will also focus my research on pertinent social problems such as inequality, minority rights and the consequences of poverty for the local population. I intend to use a variety of sources including reports and information provided by NGO's and the state as well as academic literature on the subject. Once research has been comprehensively conducted with respect to the country and the role itself, this will then allow me to put a precise plan with specific steps in place. For instance compiling a list of suitable questions for a questionaire. The second stage will be the implementation stage, this will clearly involve carrying out my action project. For instance in assessing the position of the most vulnerable in the society, it will be important to interview those on the ground for example community leaders, those working in the non-profit sector. teachers, and local people. Keeping a diary and documenting my observations and experiences as the weeks progress. Based on my research, my interactions and overall experience my project could for example change direction or take a more specific focus for example a case study. It will also be important to utilise social media to provide a live account of my experiences and observations. This may also serve a dual purpose as social media can be used for advocacy if appropriate. the final stage will be assessment or the evaluation stage which will include reflecting on my experience and how best to utilise the skills that I've learned and the experience that i've had to the Irish context. It will be interesting for example to compare how social issues are viewed by the population as well as how there adressed by the state and non-profit sector in comparison to Ireland. For example how inequality is viewed and what anti-poverty strategies and methods are employed to the local context. Occupation66: Address77: