Amy to be Pembrokeshire's voice in China (From Western Telegraph)

Amy to be Pembrokeshire's voice in China

10:31am Thursday 4th September 2008 in

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A Pembrokeshire youngster is off to Beijing today (Thursday) to harness the Paralympic spirit.

Amy Barrett is taking part in a unique youth forum in the Chinese capital.

As part of the forum the 21-year-old will also attend the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games, visit a sporting event and view the Forbidden City.

Amy is one of ten youngsters from Wales — and the only one from Pembrokeshire — to take part in the Beijing youth forum.

“I’m very excited, I can’t wait,” said Amy, who lives in Milford Haven and studies computer skills at Pembrokeshire College.

“It will be one of the best things I have ever done. It’s really special.

“I’m looking forward to learning about the Paralympic programme and also making new friends from different countries.”

The forum is part of the Young Advocates Programme, which aims to train youngsters to spread the Paralympic message in their home communities.

The 240 able and disabled young people — primarily from China, Hong Kong and the UK — will spend six days taking part in training and skills workshops.

Amy is a member of the Pembrokeshire Young Voices for Choices youth forum, which aims to give disabled children and young people a voice.

The journey to China will not be her first trip abroad. Last year, Amy was one of three Pembrokeshire youngsters, who represented the UK at a special educational needs conference in Portugal.

The Young Voices for Choices youth forum is supported by Judith McNamara, disability inclusion worker with the children and youth action team at Pembrokeshire County Council, as well as staff from the Gennex Youth Forum.