ECO-UNESCO Annual Newsletter Issue 6 2013/14 by ECO-UNESCO

ECO-UNESCO News Issue 6 / 2013/2014

All Ireland ECO-Action Programme Grows Bigger and Bigger!

Joint Senior Winners of the Young Environmentalist Awards 2013; (L) Communergy, Mountmellick Community School, Laois and (R) Youth Top Gardeners, Dublin pictured with President Michael D. Higgins and Elaine Nevin, National Director of ECO-UNESCO

Recognising and Rewarding Young Green Projects Since 1999, the Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) has encouraged and rewarded thousands of positive eco-action projects around the island of Ireland. In 2013, over 330 projects registered for the programme involving over 5000 young people. Participants were invited to take part in a regional Dragons’ Den style semi-final from which 70 groups were chosen to make it to the Showcase and Awards Ceremony in the Mansion House on May 22nd. 2013 marked the biggest YEA Showcase and Awards Ceremony to date and with over 600 young people and special guests including Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland; Cllr Clare Byrne, Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin and RTÉ’s Stephen Byrne as MC, it was truly a day to remember. Congratulations To Our 2013 Participants! Congratulations to everybody who took part in the YEA 2013, for all their hard work in helping improve the environment and for the impressive presentations and showcase delivered at the ECO-Dens and the National Showcase and Awards Ceremony. Green Teens from Mountmellick Community School, Laois and an ECO-UNESCO Peer Education Group from Dublin jointly scooped the Overall Senior

Award, while SAYSWACC, Dublin took home the Overall Junior Award. For photos, videos, and details about shortlisted projects, visit www.ecounesco.ie. Energy Globe Award Success! In April 2013, ECO-UNESCO was presented with the National Energy Globe Award for Ireland by Dr. Thomas Nader, the Austrian Ambassador to Ireland. ECO-UNESCO beat off tough competition from other entries with the Young Environmentalist Awards programme which has grown from strength to strength over the past 14 years. Presidential Support “The Young Environmentalist Awards not only recognise and reward those inspirational young people who raise awareness of environmental issues and try to find solutions to difficult problems; they also encourage young people to get involved, to suggest new answers to old questions and to be resourceful as they work together to find new ideas, new ways of thinking and to question some of the perceived inevitabilities by which we live”. - Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland See inside for a picture parade of the YEA Showcase and Ceremony

Get Involved! The YEA empowers young people (10-18 years) to build awareness of environmental issues and promote simple lifestyle changes to improve the environment, both locally and/or globally. Participants are supported by ECO-UNESCO to follow the ‘6 Steps to Success’ programme which enables them to complete an environmental action project on their chosen theme. To register your group or for more information on ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards contact E: yea@ecounesco.ie T: 01 662 54 91 or visit www.ecounesco.ie

ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2014 Timeline: Sep-Oct 2013: Regional Roadshow-FREE TRAINING for all registered groups Friday 29th November 2013: Project registration deadline Friday 28th February 2014: Project submission deadline March – April 2014: Regional ECO-Dens semi-finals May 2014: Gala Showcase and Awards Ceremony 2014

Dear friends of ECO-UNESCO, Welcome to the sixth edition of ECO-UNESCO News. It has been a very busy and exciting year for us and I greatly look forward to sharing with you our upcoming events, trainings and programmes in 2013/14. 2013 marked an expansion of our current programmes with the addition of Green Pathways, a new youth employment programme for under 25s, run under the Momentum initiative. Focused on enhancing the career and education opportunities of young job seekers, this FETAC accredited programme offers specialist green training, career development and work placement and is playing an important part in the lives of its participants, growing their confidence, communication skills and future job and education prospects. Our other youth and educational programmes such as the Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA), DPSM workshops, Y-PEP-YSD Peer Education Programme, Clubs and ECO-Youth Choices continue to have a positive and real impact on the lives and local environments of people all over Ireland. In spring 2013, the effectiveness of our flagship programme, the YEA, was acknowledged by the Energy Globe Award committee. This committee rewards successful sustainable projects and chose the YEA as the National Winner for Ireland for our work in helping to conserve and protect the world’s natural resources. Of course ECO-UNESCO is still the organisation of choice, not only for young people, but also for teachers, leaders, youth workers and anybody seeking continuous professional development in environmental education, sustainability or youth work. Through our short trainings and FETAC accredited programmes, people seeking to enhance their CVs or environmental knowledge will find a number of beneficial and interesting courses to choose from. With trainings delivered in house or as outreach, people’s accessibility to this knowledge is easier than ever! I look forward to ECO-UNESCO continuing to deliver top quality environmental and youth programmes and serving as a leader in youth environmental education and empowerment. I invite you to take this journey with us, and my thanks for your continued support. Elaine Nevin National Director, ECO-UNESCO

Help ECO-UNESCO support young people to become the future caretakers of the environment! ECO-UNESCO is a non-profit organisation, and relies on your support to develop and carry out environmental awareness programmes for Ireland’s young people. Why not become a member and enjoy discounts on our trainings, or make a once off donation of €5 and help us continue our work!

Donate online now! www.ecounesco.ie Call (01) 662 5491