ECO-UNESCO

Ireland’s Environmental Education and Youth Organisation

ECO-UNESCO’s

Are you between 10 and 18? Are you carrying out or have carried out an environmental project? Would you like reward and recognition for your work?

ECO-UNESCO’s Young Enviromentalist Awards - Get Involved!

WHO IS ECO-UNESCO? ECO-UNESCO is Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation, affiliated to the World Federation of UNESCO clubs, centres and associations.

ECO-UNESCO’S AIMS ARE TO: • Raise environmental awareness, understanding and knowledge of the environment among young people • Promote the protection and conservation of the environment • Promote the personal development of young people through practical environmental projects and activities • Promote the ideals of UNESCO

ECO-UNESCO delivers environmental workshops, supports ECO-UNESCO Clubs, runs environmental youth events, develops education resources and delivers training.

WHAT IS THE ECO-UNESCO YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALIST AWARDS PROGRAMME? ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards is an all-Ireland environmental awards programme that recognises and rewards young people who raise environmental awareness and improve the environment.

WHO SHOULD TAKE PART? ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards programme is open to any group of young people in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland from 10 - 18 years of age.

WHEN DO I NEED TO GET MY PROJECT IN? ECO-UNESCO YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALIST AWARDS TIMELINE: October Free Regional Training End of November Project registration deadline End of February Project submission deadline March & April Judging - including regional ECO-Dens! May ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards Showcase & Awards Ceremony

Remember the sooner you register the sooner you can get support from ECO-UNESCO! For further information, online registration, award category details, multimedia gallery, resources and more, visit:

www.ecounesco.ie

HOW DO I ENTER? To enter the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards you need to carry out an environmental project in one of the following categories, under one of the three age groups.

AGE GROUPS

* AWARD CATEGORIES (SENIOR & JUNIOR)

See www.ecounesco.ie for details of categories

ADDITIONAL AWARDS

* The Super Junior Award

Presented to the best and youngest of our Young Environmentalists! This a non-category specific award and is for groups age 10-12 years.

The People’s Choice Award

The public vote online for their favourite project!

Local to Global Award

For projects which show exemplary commitment to raising awareness of Global Justice and Sustainability issues.

ECO-Leader Award

For teachers and leaders who support young people carrying out an ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards project and/or running an ECO-UNESCO Club.

Eco-Alu Award

Sponsored by Alupro Ireland, young people are asked to re-use aluminium packaging in an artistic way to highlight sustainability issues. Aluminium is a light, malleable material and has such offers a lot of scope for creative use. Participants must design and create a model of their idea by re-using waste aluminium and the piece must highlight as many sustainability issues as possible (ie reduction of CO2 emissions, recycling, saving energy, water conservation etc). A photograph of the model along with a detailed written or audio visual description of the design must be provided.

ECO-Sustainability Award

(The Eco Centre and Organisation Award)-for organisations leading the way to a sustainable future.

For more information see www.ecounesco.ie

WHY GET INVOLVED?

YOUNG PEOPLE The ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards programme helps you

TEACHERS The Awards Programme links to • Primary & Secondary Curriculum (ROI) • Transition Year Module • Key Stage 3 & 4 (NI) • Green Schools (ROI) & ECO-Schools (NI) • CSPE Action Project • Gaisce Awards • Duke of Edinburgh Programme

YOUTH LEADERS, COMMUNITY WORKERS & EDUCATORS The Awards Programme empowers young people to develop skills and confidence to participate fully as active citizens. All participants receive Certificates of Participation, and are in with a chance to WIN great prizes and to take part in the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards Showcase!

WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I SUBMIT MY PROJECT? ECO-DENS: REGIONAL FINALS All groups are in with a chance to pitch their project at the ECO-Dens! Regional ECO-Dens give each group the chance to pitch to a panel of experts, tell the judges how their project makes a difference, and why they should make the final shortlist! ALL-ISLAND SHOWCASE AND AWARDS CEREMONY Final shortlisted projects are invited to attend the annual ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards Showcase and Awards Ceremony - Ireland’s biggest celebration of young people taking environmental action! Over 30,000 young people have participated in the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards programme since it began!

6 STEPS TO SUCCESS If you are carrying out an environmental project follow the Young Environmentalist Awards ‘6 Steps to Success’ programme

6 STEPS TO SUCCESS Step 1. Get a team together Step 2. Select an environmental issue Step 3. Develop an action plan Step 4. Carry out action plan Step 5. Record your project Step 6. Raise awareness

For more information see www.ecounesco.ie

SUPPORT CONTACT ECO-UNESCO TODAY: email: yea@ecounesco.ie phone: 01 662 54 91 website: www.ecounesco.ie

ECO-UNESCO PROVIDES: • • • •

Please remember only Registered Projects can avail of our support so register as soon as you have a project idea!

a hotline you can call for advice on how to get started or help at any stage of the project a toolkit (including a handbook of shortlisted projects for inspiration & a practical manual with everything you need to help a group plan and execute an action project) a project report template free training and information sessions for registered projects

REGISTRATION REGISTER ONLINE at www.ecounesco.ie

or send us your details for postal registration. Complete the form below and send to: ECO-UNESCO, The Greenhouse,17 St Andrew Street, Dublin 2.

I’d like to register by post

Name of School/Youth Group: ______________________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Roll no (if applicable): ______________________________________________________________ Name of Teacher/Youth Leader: ______________________________________________________________ Tel: ______________________________________________________________ Email Contact:

ECO-UNESCO is Ireland’s Environmental Education and Youth Organisation affiliated to the World Federation of UNESCO clubs, centres and associations (WFUCA). ECO-UNESCO is a registered charity (Charity No. CHY 7225)

ECO-UNESCO The Greenhouse, 17 St Andrew Street, Dublin 2 tel. +353 1 6625491 fax. +353 1 6625493 email. yea@ecounesco.ie

www.ecounesco.ie ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards main funders:

ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards supported by: