President Michael D. Higgins has been named as the sole patron of ECO-UNESCO, Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation.

Commenting on the announcement, National Director Elaine Nevin said “We are delighted to have President Higgins as our patron. The President has been a very strong supporter of our flagship programme, the Young Environmentalist Awards, since his appointment to Áras an Uachtaráin and it was an honour for us to have him as our keynote speaker at our 2013 event. We greatly appreciate the President’s support of our work in promoting the personal development of young people and raising environmental awareness through practical environmental projects and look forward to his continued support over the next five years.”

ECO-UNESCO was founded in 1986 and is a company limited by guarantee and a charity. ECO-UNESCO’s aims are to: promote the protection and conservation of the environment, promote the personal development of young people through practical environmental projects and activities and promote the ideals of UNESCO. The organisation also provides a wide range of programmes and services for children, young people and adults including nature camps, after school programmes and accredited and non-accredited training.

Caption: President Higgins pictured with ECO-UNESCO National Director Elaine Nevin and Communergy from Mountmellick Community School, Co.Laois, Joint Overall Senior Winners at the 2013 YEA