This is Dorset --
TWO community-minded young men from Sherborne took a trip to Italy to take part in the annual meeting of a European charity.
Young musician Joe Ferdinand, 18, and cooking enthusiast Rich Townsend, 21, visited picturesque Italian town, Bellagio, as representatives of the Sherborne branch of Europe-wide twinning association, the Douzelage.
Delegates from the organisation's 27 member counties gathered for their annual general meeting, with the largest group coming from Sherborne. A contingent of 18 travelled to the host town on Lake Como accompanied by Douzelage vice chairman Mike Balfour.
The participants volunteered their own time and funded the trip, which took place over a weekend last month.
The group's newest recruits, Joe and Rich, attended the yearly meeting as well as volunteering to take part in workshops designed to strengthen their skills and forge bonds between nationalities.
Rich, who works as a chef, took part in the Europe United In Taste workshop, where young cooks from different countries worked together under the direction of an Italian chef to create lasagnes -each with a twist inspired by his or her own national cuisine. The dishes were enjoyed as an evening meal by others on the trip.
Guitarist Joe performed to the group as part of a troupe of young musicians who wrote and recorded a new song inspired by the trip as part of an instrumental workshop over the meeting weekend.
Joe volunteers his time teaching guitar to young people at the Rendezvous centre in Sherborne, which aims to support youths in the area.
He said: "I've gained so much in so many different ways through this Douzelage experience – friends throughout Europe, musical lessons, social confidence and more."
Chairman of the association's Sherborne branch Kevin Waterfall added: "Experiences like this help to broaden a person's understanding." Reported by This is 5 days ago.
TWO community-minded young men from Sherborne took a trip to Italy to take part in the annual meeting of a European charity.
Young musician Joe Ferdinand, 18, and cooking enthusiast Rich Townsend, 21, visited picturesque Italian town, Bellagio, as representatives of the Sherborne branch of Europe-wide twinning association, the Douzelage.
Delegates from the organisation's 27 member counties gathered for their annual general meeting, with the largest group coming from Sherborne. A contingent of 18 travelled to the host town on Lake Como accompanied by Douzelage vice chairman Mike Balfour.
The participants volunteered their own time and funded the trip, which took place over a weekend last month.
The group's newest recruits, Joe and Rich, attended the yearly meeting as well as volunteering to take part in workshops designed to strengthen their skills and forge bonds between nationalities.
Rich, who works as a chef, took part in the Europe United In Taste workshop, where young cooks from different countries worked together under the direction of an Italian chef to create lasagnes -each with a twist inspired by his or her own national cuisine. The dishes were enjoyed as an evening meal by others on the trip.
Guitarist Joe performed to the group as part of a troupe of young musicians who wrote and recorded a new song inspired by the trip as part of an instrumental workshop over the meeting weekend.
Joe volunteers his time teaching guitar to young people at the Rendezvous centre in Sherborne, which aims to support youths in the area.
He said: "I've gained so much in so many different ways through this Douzelage experience – friends throughout Europe, musical lessons, social confidence and more."
Chairman of the association's Sherborne branch Kevin Waterfall added: "Experiences like this help to broaden a person's understanding." Reported by This is 5 days ago.