Now in its sixteenth year, the Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA), run by ECO-UNESCO, Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation, is Ireland’s biggest celebration of youth ECO action and is an initiative open to young people aged 10-18 years from across the 32 counties of Ireland. The programme sees groups from schools, youth and community organisations come up with real solutions to a host of local and global environmental issues.
ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards gets young people involved in taking environmental action. Thousands of young environmentalists in schools, youth groups and Youthreach centres throughout the island of Ireland are already making positive contributions to their environment and community by carrying out environmental action projects. ECO-UNESCO celebrates their green endeavours and achievements through our awards programme.
Final shortlisted projects are invited to attend the annual ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards Showcase and Awards Ceremony in the Round Room adjacent to the Mansion in the heart of Dublin. This is an action packed day where finalists showcase their work to the public, their peers and special guests in the lead up to the award ceremony. The event includes entertainment and activities.
2014 was the biggest Showcase and Awards ceremony to date with 70 projects getting through to the final with President Michael D. Higgins delivered the keynote address on the day.
For 2015 we’ve had huge interest in the programme receiving registrations from all across Ireland and we are really looking forward to receiving all of the projects and finding out what great ideas young people have for carrying out positive eco-action in their communities and further afield!
Projects can be submitted by post before the deadline on Friday 27th of February, 2015.
There will be no extension on this deadline due to the short lead in time to the ECO-Dens.
Last year we received over 250 entries from thousands of young people nationwide
“ECO-UNESCO gives a great opportunity for young people to express their feelings about the environment and allows us to show our passion through the work we display at the Young Environmentalist Awards. It is a chance for us to act and hopefully make a difference.”explains Rebecca, one of our young environmentalists from Banbridge High School.
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Additional Information
KEY DATES
- Project Submission Deadline – 27 February 2015
- Ulster ECO-Den – 11 March 2015
- Munster ECO-Den – 19 March 2015
- Connaught ECO-Den – 24 March 2015
- Leinster ECO-Den – 26-27 March 2015
- Showcase and Awards Ceremony – 13 May 2015
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 Children and Youth Affairs; the Environmental Protection Agency and Dublin City Council.
For further information, please contact:
ECO-UNESCO’s YEA Programme coordinator: Tomas Dermody
E. yea@ecounesco.ie T. +353 1 6625491
ECO-UNESCO’s Communications Officer: Carlos Perez
E. communications@ecounesco.ie T. +353 1 6625491
