Kinsale Community School Students Attend Sakharov Youth Seminar at the European Parliament

Kinsale Community School students, Emily Bertoletti, Aoibhe Reilly Coverdale, Enid O'Sullivan and Lia D'Arcy, attended the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday, 16th December, where they participated in the Sakharov Youth Seminar as part of the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme (EPAS). For the students involved, the visit proved to offer a powerful insight into European democracy in action. 

The seminar brought together students from 28 EPAS schools across Europe, representing 27 EU Member States and the United Kingdom. Throughout the programme, students engaged directly with themes of human rights, democracy and freedom of thought, values that are central to the work of the European Parliament and increasingly important in today’s world. 

Kinsale Community School was selected as the only Irish school to attend this prestigious event. The invitation, extended by the European Parliament in Ireland, recognises the school’s sustained and meaningful commitment to Global Citizenship and Human Rights education, both within the classroom and through broader school initiatives. 

During the visit, students gained first-hand experience of how the European Parliament operates and had the opportunity to meet with Irish Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). These discussions highlighted the importance of democratic institutions, active citizenship and the role young people play in safeguarding democracy, freedom and human rights across Europe. 

With over 30,000 EPAS students and more than 2,200 EPAS schools across Europe, selection for the Sakharov Youth Seminar represents a significant achievement for the school. The students represented Kinsale Community School with maturity, confidence and thoughtfulness, fully engaging with complex global issues and recognising the value of democratic participation. 

The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 

The Sakharov Youth Seminar is closely linked to the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, awarded annually by the European Parliament to individuals or organisations who have made exceptional contributions to the defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Named after Soviet physicist and human rights activist Andrei Sakharov, past recipients include Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai and Alexei Navalny, among others who have shown extraordinary courage in standing up for democracy and justice. 

Learning about the lives and sacrifices of Sakharov Prize recipients gave students a deeper understanding of the real-world impact of democratic values and human rights, reinforcing the message that freedom and democracy must be actively protected. 

Kinsale Community School is proud of its continued involvement in the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme and remains committed to empowering students to become informed, engaged and responsible global citizens. 

This Year’s Sakharov Prize Laureates – Standing for Democracy and Freedom At the same time as the Sakharov Youth Seminar took place in Strasbourg, the European Parliament awarded the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought — one of Europe’s highest honours for courage in defending human rights and democratic values. This year’s laureates are: 

• Andrzej Poczobut (Belarus) — A journalist, writer and activist who has long spoken out against authoritarian rule in Belarus. Despite repeated arrests and harsh prison sentences for his reporting and criticism of the regime, he continues to embody the struggle for freedom of expression and democratic rights. His dedication to truth, even in the face of political repression, underlines the importance of a free press in protecting democracy.

• Mzia Amaglobeli (Georgia) — A Georgian journalist and co-founder of independent media outlets, arrested in 2025 after participating in pro-democracy protests. She became a symbol of Georgia’s fight for free journalism and democratic reform. Her work and imprisonment highlight how essential independent media is for a healthy democracy, especially when governments seek to silence dissent.

Both laureates were recognised not only for their personal courage but also as representatives of wider movements defending fundamental freedoms in their countries. Their stories remind us that democracy is not guaranteed — it must be defended, protected and valued by citizens everywhere. 
 
Hearing Directly from Sakharov Prize Laureates and Their Representatives 
 
As part of their visit to Strasbourg, students attended a Youth Seminar organised exclusively for European Parliament Ambassador Schools (EPAS) in advance of the Sakharov Prize ceremony. This dedicated seminar was designed to give students a deeper insight into the Sakharov Prize and its values, and provided a rare opportunity to listen directly to Sakharov Prize laureates and their representatives. Hearing these powerful first-hand accounts brought the realities of human rights struggles into sharp focus and reinforced the vital importance of democracy, freedom of expression and the rule of law. 

Andrzej Poczobut – Sakharov Prize Laureate (Belarus) 

Andrzej Poczobut is a journalist, writer and human rights activist known for his outspoken criticism of the Lukashenka regime in Belarus. He has written extensively on history, democracy and human rights, with a particular focus on the rights of the Polish minority in Belarus, serving as a leader of the Union of Poles in Belarus. 
He has been arrested multiple times and, following a crackdown on the Union of Poles in 2021, was sentenced to eight years in a penal colony. His health has significantly deteriorated, and despite not receiving the medical care he requires, he continues to stand as a symbol of resistance and democratic values. His current state of health is unknown, and his family is not permitted to visit him. 

Jana Poczobut – Primary Representative 

Jana Poczobut, daughter of Andrzej Poczobut, represented her father at the seminar. A doctor and graduate of the Medical University of Białystok, she grew up in Grodno in a family deeply committed to cultural identity, historical truth and minority rights. From a young age, she accompanied her father in his journalistic and historical work, witnessing first-hand his dedication to uncovering forgotten aspects of Polish history in Belarus. 

Anna Kietlińska – Polish Minority Rights Advocate 

Anna Kietlińska is a Polish philologist, teacher and long-standing social activist. For over 30 years, she has volunteered in support of the Polish minority in Belarus and those facing repression. She is the President of the Podlaskie Branch of the “Wspólnota Polska” Association, established by the Polish Senate, and was instrumental in setting up a Humanitarian Aid Centre for Poles from Belarus in Białystok. She has led numerous educational and cultural projects for Polish youth across Central and Eastern Europe. 

Robert Tyszkiewicz – Former Polish Sejm Member and Democracy Advocate 

Robert Tyszkiewicz served as a member of the Polish Sejm from 2005 to 2023 and was Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Throughout his career, he actively supported democratic opposition movements and independent media in Belarus. Before entering parliament, he was involved in dissident activism during the communist era. In January 2025, he was awarded the medal “For fruitful work for Belarus” by the Belarusian United Transitional Cabinet for his dedication to democratic reform. 

Mzia Amaglobeli – Sakharov Prize Laureate (Georgia) 

Mzia Amaglobeli is an imprisoned Georgian journalist and co-founder of the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti. In January 2025, she was arrested following anti-government protests and later sentenced to two years in prison, becoming the first female journalist political prisoner in independent Georgia. Her case has become a powerful symbol of the crackdown on press freedom and dissent in the country. 

Irma Dimitradze – Primary Representative 

Irma Dimitradze is a journalist and Communications Manager at Gazeti Batumelebi LLC. She is the author of a major data investigation that revealed the misuse of sensitive personal data affecting tens of thousands of voters during Georgia’s 2024 elections. She plays a key role in international advocacy efforts supporting Mzia Amaglobeli and is a member of the International Press Institute (IPI). 

Hatia Jinjikhadze – Media and Civil Society Advocate 

Hatia Jinjikhadze is Deputy Director of the Civil Society Foundation in Georgia and has spent over 15 years supporting independent media organisations, including those serving minority communities. She works actively to improve media legislation and protect journalists’ rights and previously worked on media support programmes at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi. 

Legal Perspective on Press Freedom 

Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC – Human Rights Lawyer 

Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC is a renowned international human rights lawyer specialising in accountability for crimes against journalists. She represents the families of murdered and imprisoned journalists, including Daphne Caruana Galizia and Jimmy Lai, and works with global figures such as Maria Ressa. An Irish barrister and Ireland’s Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, she has led landmark cases before the European Court of Human Rights, strengthening protections for press freedom and human rights. 

 The visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg was a highly valuable educational experience that significantly enhanced students’ understanding of democracy, human rights, European citizenship and the European . Through direct engagement with European institutions and discussions with policymakers and human rights advocates, students gained first-hand insight into how democratic values are upheld and challenged in practice. Kinsale Community School sincerely thanks the European Parliament in Ireland for providing this exceptional opportunity through the European Parliament Ambassador School Programme. The experience will have a lasting impact on the students and further reinforces the school’s strong commitment to Global Citizenship. 

Aoife Houlihan, Aoibhe Reilly Coverdale, Enid O'Sullivan, Margaret Francois, Emily Bertoletti, , Lia D'Arcy, Gemma Cooper