A four-way exchange organized by the Kent Youth City Council gave Student Ambassadors a taste of political issues in Europe, as they interacted with students from England, Estonia, Finland, and Germany. This unique People to People moment is best described by one of the Ambassadors who participated in this lively youth debate.
“We arrived in Ashford, England, amidst a pile of over-packed luggage. Our destination: A debate with Kent Youth County Council on whether or not the voting age should be lowered to 16 years of age. However, debate is not quite the word for what happened. Each emotion-packed, heated point was delivered in a powerful voice and usually accompanied by overblown hand gestures… One of our delegates, Tom, delivered the point of the United States with diplomacy, tact, and grace. It made the rest of us look really good… After the debate, Tom and I gave a small interview on the U.S. opinion of the debates for the camera. I got to be on British TV! I seriously had to restrain myself to keep from looking straight into the camera and saying, ‘Hi, Mom!’”
— From the Travel Journal of Student Ambassador Randa Wells
To experience more of this memorable event, please view the video segment from the Kent County Council TV station.
