Free workshops for schools and youth groups are now being offered to interested groups around Northern Ireland under the 2014 Challenge Fund. The ‘Young Environmentalist Awards 6 Steps to Success’ workshops provided by ECO-UNESCO, Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation, will allow groups to gain the necessary skills and knowledge to participate in the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards programme. The two hour workshop will allow young people aged 10-18 to explore how to begin and complete a local eco-action project along with highlighting the skills needed to work in a team and how to promote the project in their school or community.

Those participating in the workshops will then have the opportunity to enter their eco-action project in the Young Environmentalist Awards programme and be recognised and rewarded for their efforts.

Commenting on the upcoming workshops, Elaine Nevin, National Director of ECO-UENSCO said, “ECO-UNESCO is delighted to have been a successful applicant in the 2014 Challenge Fund. The free workshops that we are now offering under the Challenge Fund are a fantastic opportunity for young people to get involved in improving their local environment, be that in their school or local community. The workshop on offer will not only allow young people to learn the necessary skills to carry out an eco-project, but by getting involved with the Young Environmentalist Awards programme they will increase their confidence, teamwork, planning and communication skills, along with having a lot of fun!”

Established in 1999, ECO-UNESCO’s annual Young Environmentalist Awards are a fun and exciting way to empower young people to become better citizens, to build awareness of environmental issues in their locality and promote simple actions and lifestyle changes to improve the environment for all.

Interested schools and groups are advised to contact ECO-UNESCO on +353 1 662 5491 or yea@ecounesco.ie to secure their free workshop.