YOUTH-to-youth communication was on the agenda for a Teesside student who has addressed teenage delegates at an international conference in Russia.
St Michael’s Catholic Academy pupil Ross Beall, 15, was one of only two students to be chosen to represent the UK at the UNESCO Youth Forum in St Petersburg.
Keen sportsman Ross, of Billingham, who was diagnosed with type one diabetes when he was three-years-old, addressed hundreds of young delegates from across the globe on youth and healthy lifestyles.
“Having diabetes has never held me back in anything,” said Ross who plays ice hockey for Billingham Stars U16s.
“It’s something that I’m always aware of but, managed correctly, through monitoring my blood sugar levels and having regular insulin injections, it doesn’t stop me doing anything that I want to do.
“It was a complete surprise when I was asked to speak at the UNESCO Youth Forum. I felt really honoured to have been chosen and to be able to outline health problems among young people and submit proposals to the EU and Russian governments on how to tackle and improve the situation by pushing for healthier lifestyles.”
Ross was picked to represent the UK after taking part in the Most Education World Youth Exchange, hosted by Durham University, where students from Finland, Germany, Bulgaria, China and the UK took part in week-long multi-cultural exchange.
“My nan and granddad are from Cyprus and I love travel and looking at different cultures,” said Ross.
“Going to Russia was a great chance to meet young people from other countries, learn about their heritage, visit historical sites and I also got to go to an ice hockey game while I was out there.
“I still keep in touch with more than 65 international students who I met on the youth exchange last year and I’ve made lots more new friends on this visit.”
Ross was accompanied by St Michael’s Academy supply teacher Michael Briton, of North East charity Youth World Foundation, and lived with a host family in St Petersburg during his five-day trip.
“There were more than 25 groups from across Europe and Russia taking part at the forum and our UK students finished second overall in the youth group project competition,” added Mr Briton.
“The forum was organised at an outstanding level with a number of VIP guests including members of the Russian Government, EU consulates and the UK Consul in St Petersburg Rob Kempsell.
“This was Ross’ first international experience abroad without his parents and in our opinion he managed it very well. This experience will have helped him to gain enormous confidence as a young person.”
