MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 12th September 2011
CALLING ALL YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALISTS!
Registration open for Ireland’s biggest celebration of youth ECO-Action: ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2012
Registration is now open for Ireland’s most exciting environmental awards programme for young people, the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards. The Awards recognise and reward the green achievements of any group of young people, aged 10-18, who want to take action on key environmental issues such as climate change, energy, waste, biodiversity, transport and more. Over 25,000 young people have been involved to date, with record numbers expected to take part in the all-island programme run by ECO-UNESCO, Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation, this year.
“Last year’s awards saw innovative young people from across Ireland come up with real solutions to local and global issues, through projects ranging from carbon footprint apps to guerrilla gardening groups, from biodiversity trails to a dam building project on the river Corrib and even a climate change campaign involving polar bears made of recycled materials being placed around Dublin city! We are looking forward to more outstanding projects this year. Through these projects young people are taking action and raising awareness about important environmental issues among their peers, their schools and youth groups and the community as a whole.” said Elaine Nevin, National Director of ECO-UNESCO.
Each May, ECO-UNESCO hosts the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards Showcase and Awards Ceremony to honour the outstanding green achievements of young people from youth groups and schools across Ireland and Northern Ireland. The ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards programme has been running on an all-island basis for 13 years, with over 25,000 young people becoming involved over that time. Numbers have been growing each year, and in 2011 over 4,000 young people participated, many of them showcasing their projects at an exhibition held in the Mansion House, Dublin, last May. The National Showcase, attracts hundreds of young people who get an opportunity to show their environmental project work to the public.
Participants in ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards have until February 2012 to complete their project in one of nine categories including climate change, biodiversity, energy, waste and transport. Once registered, ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards groups can avail of ECO-UNESCO’s advice and support as their projects progress. Registration for ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards 2012 closes on November 25th 2011.
Teachers and youth leaders can register groups of 2-20 young people on www.ecounesco.ie or by contacting ECO-UNESCO at +353 1 6625491 yea@ecounesco.ie.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
ECO-UNESCO Communications Officer E. communications@ecounesco.ie T. +353 1 6625491
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY: Elaine Nevin, National Director of ECO-UNESCO is available for phone interviews on the environmental work of young people in Irish youth groups and schools. Interviews with previous winning or shortlisted groups in your area can also be arranged.
Notes to Editor:
ABOUT ECO-UNESCO
ECO-UNESCO (www.ecounesco.ie) is Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation. The organisation aims to raise environmental awareness, promote the protection and conservation of the environment, and promote the personal development of young people. ECO-UNESCO is affiliated to the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA). ECO-UNESCO is a registered charity (CHY 7225)
ABOUT THE ECO-UNESCO YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALIST AWARDS
ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards is an awards programme that empowers young people to become better citizens, build awareness of environmental issues and promote simple lifestyle changes to improve the environment. The Young Environmentalist Awards is funded annually by the Department of Environment, Heritage, and Local Government; Department of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; Department of Transport; The Environmental Protection Agency; COMHAR Sustainable Development Council; and Dublin City Council.
KEY DATES:
Registration Deadline: November 25th 2011
Project Submission Deadline: February 24th 2012
National Showcase and Awards Ceremony: May 9th 2012
For more information on ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards visit www.ecounesco.ie
To get a look back at the journey to the ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards 2011, read our On the Road blog at http://ecounesco.wordpress.com
