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Limerick Youth Service Arctic Expedition Proves a Great Success

Limerick Youth Service Arctic Expedition Proves a Great Success; Pictured are members of Limerick Youth Service at the gates to the Arctic Circle

Sub-zero temperatures greeted nine young people on the Limerick Youth Service Arctic Expedition when they arrived at the northern Swedish city of Boden, a mere 100KM from the Arctic Circle, to participate in a youth exchange programme called The KEY. 

An acronym for Keep Educating Yourself, the KEY is a trilateral youth exchange programme between the Swedish organisation Bjorknasgy, ZAK Malta and Limerick Youth Service that focuses on youth entrepreneurship with a particular emphasis on creativity and culture. 

Throughout the week the young people took part in several projects that allowed them to display their entrepreneurial talents, with one example an exercise programme for older people called ‘granercise.’ 


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Away from the workshops, the young people shared stories of their respective nations with the cultural night proving extremely popular with sources confirming the Limerick team displayed their dancing ‘talents’ with their unique take of the Siege of Ennis! 

One of the highlights of the exchange was a trip to the Arctic Circle, a moment Demi Lyons will never forget despite, the -20oC temperature! 

Limerick Youth Service Arctic Expedition

Limerick Youth Service Arctic Expedition Proves a Great Success; In search of Rudolph! Members of Limerick Youth Service meet local reindeer in Sweden.

‘It was a once in a lifetime experience to stand in the Arctic Circle,’ said Demi, St. Mary’s Park who also added seeing reindeer and sledging as her other highlights. 

Reflecting on the Limerick Youth Service Arctic Expedition John Real praised the young people who ‘got involved in and took the lead with many of the activities and programmes.’ 

‘You could see a real bond among the participants, particularly the Irish members which was all the more impressive as many of them were from different parts of Limerick and didn’t previously know each,’ said John. 

‘The trip certainly broadened their horizons and challenged their idea of community as it showed they are part of a wider European and global community, ‘John added. 

The Nordic exchange was part one of the three-part series with next stage taking place in Malta in late May followed by the conclusion in Limerick this October.  

The youth exchanged is an Erasmus Plus programme supported by Leargas in partnership Leargas Limerick Youth Service, ZAK Malta and Bjorknasgy, Sweden 

A member of Youth Work Ireland, Limerick Youth Service remains committed to supporting and encouraging young people to be active participants in shaping their futures.

To find out more about Limerick Youth Service, please click here.

To read more stories about Limerick Youth Service, you can click here.

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.