Eco unesco annual report 2009 web%20version%201

Ireland’s Environmental Education and Youth Organisation

ECO-UNESCO Annual Report 2009

ECO-UNESCO is affiliated to the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations

ECO-UNESCO

ECO-UNESCOANNUAL REPORT 2008

WelcomeContents

Welcome 2

About ECO-UNESCO 3

Environmental YouthProgrammes 4Events & ActivitiesWorkshopsNational Youth ECO-ForumECO-UNESCO Clubs

ECO-UNESCO YoungEnvironmentalist Awards 6

Environmental &Training Programmes 9ECO-UNESCO: FETAC Accredited CentreYouth for Sustainable DevelopmentECO-Choices Programme

ECO-UNESCO inNorthern Ireland 11

Communications 12

Representation & Advocacy 13

Collaborative Working 13

Funding 14

Where We Work 15

2

Dear friends of ECO-UNESCO

I am delighted to present our Annual Report outlining our achievements in 2009.

Environmental education and environmental youth work helps to protect our environment whilst empowering young people. It helps young people gain knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to help create a more sustainable world. At ECO-UNESCO we develop youth programmes that are accessible to all which empower and develop young people’s interests and provide them with a voice.

In 2009 we continued to offer our unique range of youth programmes and services and worked with thousands of young people; we ran a National Youth ECO-Forum on Climate Change with over 180 young people; we supported thousands of young people who created exceptional Young Environmentalist projects; we upskilled hundreds of young people as peer educators and youth leaders.

In 2009 we further developed our Peer Education Programmes for young people through our ECO-Youth Choices and Youth for Sustainable Development programmes.

In 2009, we continued to provide training and resources for young people, teachers and youth leaders looking to integrate environmental education into their work with young people.

We also provided new education and training opportunities for teachers, youth leaders, and adult learners through one-day trainings and adult evening courses.

As a FETAC Accredited Centre, ECO-UNESCO introduced sustainable development to a wider audience through our FETAC Level 5 course, Introduction to Sustainable Development. In 2009 we further developed our FETAC accredited Sustainable Development module and now also provide it as an intensive training programme.

Into the future, we will continue to be innovative in responding to environmental concerns, as well as the challenges of the economic climate in 2010. We aim to build on our many successes of 2009 by providing outstanding programmes for young people, leaders and teachers.

I know you will enjoy reading more about these initiatives and the great work that ECO-UNESCO has been involved in this year. Thank you for your continued interest and support.

Regards,

Elaine NevinNational Director of ECO-UNESCO

ECO-UNESCO is Ireland’s environmental education and youth to organisation. ECO-UNESCO works to educate, raise awareness and promote the personal development of young people through environmental youth programmes, activities, education and training programmes and publications.


3

ECO-UNESCO’s aims are to:

• Raise 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.

• Further the goals of UNESCO

Protecting the Environment

ECO-UNESCO works with young people, teachers and youth leaders on environmental projects across Ireland. Through workshops and activities, ECO-UNESCO supports and inspires environmental action in local communities.

In 2009, ECO-UNESCO’s environmental work included:• Workshops for schools and youth groups • Young Environmentalist Awards • Environmental Youth Programme Events and Activities• Development of environmental education resources• Projects funded by the Environmental Partnership Fund

Empowering Young People

Through the use of innovative peer education programmes and youth events, ECO-UNESCO continued to work towards the mission of using environmental education as a tool for empowering young people and positive personal development.

In 2009, ECO-UNESCO’s youth work included:• ECO-Youth Choices Peer Education Programme• Youth for Sustainable Development Peer Education

Programme• Trainings for Teachers and Youth Leaders•

• National Youth ECO-Forum• Environmental Youth Programme International Exchange• Young Environmentalist Awards• ECO-UNESCO Clubs

Our Link to UNESCO

ECO-UNESCO is affiliated to the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA). The UNESCO Clubs movement started in Japan in 1947 with the aim of providing a means for individuals to become involved in promoting the goals of UNESCO - cooperation and collaboration for peace. Founded in 1981, WFUCA is responsible for informing, coordinating and mobilising its members with UNESCO’s support and cooperation.

Acknowledgements

ECO-UNESCO would like to thank all those who contributed to the development of the organisation in 2009—especially all of our hardworking volunteers, interns, members and funders.

Board Members: Liz Carroll, Anne Marie Kilshaw, Mark Bennett, Peter Byrne

National Director: Elaine Nevin

Staff: Armin Krautgasser, Daniel Meister, Jerrieann Sullivan, Hedda Dick, Amanda Tiller, Claire Lyons, Graham Clarke, Lauren Dare, Ian Davis, Karen Sheeran, Charlotte Evans, Dharsh Pillay

Members & Participants: Our membership programme continued to grow in 2009 as young people, adults and youth groups joined ECO-UNESCO to help support the vision of the organisation. ECO-UNESCO Members benefit from special events and discounts on resources, trainings and workshops.

ECO-UNESCO looks forward to building our membership and corporate sponsorship programme in 2010.

About ECO-UNESCOECO-UNESCO is Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation affiliated to the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA).

ECO-UNESCO is

10,000 young people, teachers and leaders participating in ECO-UNESCO events, activities and trainings

500 attendees at the Young Environmentalist Awards

200 young people asking the experts “What’s So Hot About Climate Change?” at the National Youth ECO-Forum

160 young people learning about the environment during the Phoenix Park Summer Programme

80 environmental education workshops for young people

50 shortlisted Young Environmentalist Awards Projects from 29 counties

30 Youth for Sustainable Development Peer Educators

15 Dublin area Environmental Youth Programme events

1 environmental education and youth organisation

20 Environmental action days with young people all over Ireland


4

WorkshopsECO-UNESCO carried out a range of workshop programmes during 2009 which included its ECO-Action and ECO-Discovery series.

In 2009, ECO-UNESCO delivered over 80 workshops to young people all over Ireland. Young people participated in interactive activities on a range of topics including energy, climate change, creative recycling and more. These workshops were delivered on request in schools, VECs, Youthreach Centres and youth organisations; in conjunction with Local Authorities through the Environmental Partnership Fund (EPF) and also as part of Catholic Youth Care summer projects and county library programmes.

Cinemagic 2009

ECO-UNESCO collaborated with Cinemagic, a film organisation based in Belfast, on their International Children’s Film Festival 2009. During the Cinemagic Dublin Film Festival in May, ECO-UNESCO facilitated a number of well-received environmental workshops to participants on the day.

Phoenix Park Summer Programme

In July 2009, ECO-UNESCO delivered for a second year running, its tailored programme called ‘Discovery in the Park’ run in conjunction with the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre and the OPW. This consisted of a series of full-day workshops and adventure trails around the park delivered to over 200 young people aged 4-12. The month was broken up into 4 themes, one per week, with these covering; i) Trees and Flowers ofthe Park, ii) Creative Recycling, iii) Deer and Animals of the Park and iv) Discover the Heritage of the Park. The children also planted seeds, painted t-shirts and got creative as part of the programme

Events And ActivitiesECO-UNESCO organised a range of environmental events and activities in 2009 aimed at getting young people out to learn about their environment in a fun, hands-on way. Based around key environmental days such as Earth Day and Car Free Day, to name but two, the very popular event series brought young people from across the greater Dublin area together for conservation, education and adventure.

2009 highlights of ECO-UNESCO’s Environmental Youth Programme included:

Tree Week Urban Safari - Exploring the role of trees in the built environment and ‘Greening the City’, young people finished their safari in Merrion Square planting a tree to celebrate Tree Week.

UN Earth Day - A team of ECO-UNESCO Peer Educators helped other young people to get a hands-on conservation experience. The group took on the rehabilitation of hedgerows and other conservation activities as part of the ‘Greening the Suburbs’ initiative.

Biodiversity Week - Young people took part in interactive quizzes, sensory displays, games and DIY investigations of the natural environment amongst other activities to celebrate Biodiversity Week.

Car Free Day - On this members’ action day, participants were given a toolkit with a menu of ‘Car Free Actions’ which they could take locally to reduce private vehicle use during EU Mobility Week.

Environmental Youth Programme Events and Actions - Also took place on UN World Environment Day, Biosphere Day, Stop Climate Chaos events, the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards Showcase and Ceremony and at the ECO-UNESCO National Youth ECO-Forum.

Parachute games in ECO-UNESCO’s Phoenix park summer programme

Environmental Youth Programmes

ENVIRONMENTAL YOUTH PROGRAMMES

ECO-UNESCO carried out workshops from its ECO-Watchers programme including:

Energy Watchers examines our energy consumption. It helps participants investigate their personal energy usage and explores new ways we can address the energy challenge.

Waste Watchers focuses on developing an understanding of waste and consumption. Young people learn how to address the issue by adopting practical, sustainable solutions in their daily routines.

Climate Watchers puts climate change into context by exploring local and global issues. Young people learn how to take action at a local level and how to reduce their carbon footprint.

“It’s amazing what you can find when you know where to look”


5

ECO-UNESCO National Youth ECO-Forum

On Wednesday 25 November, ECO-UNESCO’s National Youth ECO-Forum 2009 brought over 180 young people aged 15 to 18, from across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, together to speak directly to the experts and present their own recommendations for taking action on climate change.

ECO-UNESCO ClubsIn 2009 the relaunched ECO-UNESCO Clubs programme went from strength to strength. New supporters of the programme in 2009 included Toyota Ireland. A new category was introduced ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2010 in recognition of this partnership: the Toyota ECO-UNESCO Club of the Year Award. This includes a development fund for ECO-UNESCO Clubs, to assist with their work. ECO-UNESCO looks forward to building closer links with Toyota Ireland in 2010, as the further expansion of the ECO-UNESCO Clubs programme is underway.

What’s So Hot About Climate Change ?

Countdown to Copenhagen

ECO-UNESCO’s National Youth ECO-Forum 2009 What’s So Hot About Climate Change? Countdown to Copenhagen was a timely opportunity for young people to plan actions on climate change. Through an innovative speed-networking format, participants gained access to key decision-makers from the fields of science, education, policy and the media - and made their voice heard on one of the most critical issues of our time.The insightful recommendations developed by young people at the National Youth ECO-Forum were brought back to their communities to use as they address Climate Change at the local level.

Funding for ECO-UNESCO’s National Youth ECO-Forum was provided by the Youth in Action European funding programme, administered in Ireland by Leargas.

Recommendations from the National Youth ECO-Forum Young People at the 2009 National Youth ECO-Forum developed a set of recommendations to present to the expert panel. A new category was introduced to the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2010 in recognition. Some of the key recommendations are outlined here, (for a complete list see www.ecounesco.ie):

• Encourage local government to support local produce and provide education on climate change/environmental issues. .

• The government should focus less on non-renewable energy such as peat and focus more on renewable energy like solar, wind & wave energy.

• Get more celebrities involved in campaigning against climate change in the media and make short comedy sketches about environmental issues.

• The government should make it easier for people to recycle more.

• Use methane to generate electricity.

• More information on BER scheme & funding.

• Funding and increased information/availability of individual sustainable energy systems for householders.

• Every school should have an environmental action committee.

• Environmentally focused events organised for all schools in their local area/provinces.

To see the young Climate Change Leaders explain their recommendations, go to youtube.com/ecounesco.

Minister Gormley meets ECO-UNESCO National Director, Elaine Nevin and ECO-UNESCO Peer Educators

Over 180 young people attended the National Youth ECO-Forum in Croke Park

The expert panel hear young people’s recommendations

Louise Murphy of Toyota presents ECO-UNESCO with an ECO-Car as Toyota come on board as supporters of the ECO-UNESCO Clubs Programme


6

Young Environmentalist Awards 2009ECO-UNESCO

National Director, Elaine Nevin and Expert Panel members speak to Youthreach during the Showcase

Young Environmentalist AwardsECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards Ireland’s biggest celebration of young people taking ECO-Action!

The ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Showcase and Awards Ceremony 2009, held on 20th May, was one of the best attended events to date. Over 500 young people from across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland displayed their projects at the Mansion House in Dublin.

During the showcase, where young participants got the chance to show the public the great work they had done, ECO-UNESCO provided interactive workshops and hands-on ECO-Zones to further engage the young people in environmental education.

The Showcase and Awards Ceremony was attended by many notable people including the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr, Eibhlin Byrne; Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan; RTE Children’s Programming Presenter, Aidan Power; as well as representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transport, Youth Affairs, Environmental Education Forum Northern Ireland and Environmental Heritage Service Northern Ireland.

Special thanks to the external judging panel:

• Andy Griggs (EEF)• Evelyn O’Connor (Department of

the Environment, Heritage and Local Government),

• Aoife Quinn, ENFO• Matt Crowe, Environmental Protection

Agency• Mary Cunningham (NYCI)• Conor Harrison(CSPE),• Alyn Jones (Alliance Youth Works)• Gabrielle Moran (Transition Year

Support)• Catherine Gleave (EEF)

The ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2009 was supported by:

Main Funders:

• Dept of Environment Heritage and Local Government

• Northern Irish Environment Agency• Office of the Minister for Children and

Youth AffairsSupporters:• Comhar• Department of Transport• Environmental Protection Agency• Irish Environmental Network• Baglady Productions

Full house at the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards Ceremony.

The ECO-UNESCO interactive zones were a big hit!


7

Case Study: The Green Mile

Overall Winner ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2009 C.B.S Secondary School, Charleville, Co. Cork Senior

The Green Mile Project was started in 2007 by a group of transition year students who decided to tackle the issue of CO2 emissions and to reduce their carbon footprint. The aim of the project was to reduce the amount of traffic coming into the school by encouraging students to walk, cycle or carpool. The group felt this would reduce air pollution, traffic congestion and improve the health and fitness of students. The group organised a 20km cycle to raise funds for the project and organised a Green Mile Week during the year. Throughout this week, residents of Charleville were encouraged to drive less and the group observed a measurable reduction in traffic volumes in the town. To raise awareness, they sent articles to the newspaper, conducted radio interviews, displayed information at school and received support from local businesses. The Green Mile Project is an ongoing initiative, so expect to see more from the group in the future!

The ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards in numbers:

20,000 young people have participated in the awards

1999 The year the awards began

1,500 youth groups, schools & communities in Ireland & Northern Ireland involved

150 projects registered for 2009

50 shortlisted groups invited to shortlist their projects in 2009 at the Mansion House, Dublin

15 categories ranging from Community Development to Climate Change, to Waste to Water.

1 aim: empower young people to take ECO-Action!


8

Education and Training Programme

ECO-UNESCO’s Education and Training Programme provides high-quality short trainings and accredited course for a wide variety of stakeholders. These include teachers and educators, youth workers, environmental awareness officers, National and International (E)NGOs, community & business leaders and those interested in youth, community, environmental & sustainable development issues.

ECO-UNESCO’s short trainings facilitate participants to get hands-on, practical training, using methodologies and activities based on the environmental education programmes and services ECO-UNESCO provides. These are readily transferable to all sectors and provide for cutting edge methods to motivate people of all ages to work towards sustainable development and environmental conservation and protection. In 2009, also ECO-UNESCO trained teachers and leaders from across Ireland on Energy, Waste & Climate Change Education in cooperation with Local Authorities.

Short CoursesIn 2009 ECO-UNESCO delivered a range of short training courses including:

•ECO-UNESCO’sEnvironmentalEducationtrainingprogramme:Anintroductiontoenvironmental education•ECO-UNESCO’sECO-Watcherstrainingprogrammes:Trainingtargetedatteachersfromprimary, junior & leaving certificate curriculum frameworks of formal education featuring (Waste Watchers, Energy Watchers, and Climate Watchers)•ECO-UNESCO’sECO-Choicestrainingprogramme:DrugPreventionTrainingforTrainers-An alternative approach to drug misuse prevention•ECO-UNESCO’sYouthWorkandSustainabilityNEW•ECO-UNESCO’sSustainit!Becomingasustainableorganisation NEW•ECO-UNESCO’sPlanningfortheYoungEnvironmentalistAwardstraining&informationprogramme

In 2009 a total of 16 short courses were delivered to over 300 participants from a range of participants taking the course for continuous professional and personal development purposes.

Peer Education ProgrammesIn 2009 ECO-UNESCO delivered its highly successful Peer Education Training courses to young people aged between 15 and 21. The courses include:

•YouthforSustainableDevelopmentprogramme(agegroup15to18)•ECO-YouthChoicesprogramme(agegroup15to21)

A range of workshops, events and trainings were delivered as part of the ECO-Youth Choices and Youth for Sustainable Development programmes directly reaching over 200 participants and indirectly targeting over 2000 young people.

Energy Watchers Training Roscommon

Peer Educators

Taking the lead: participants in the peer education programme engage their peers on issues of sustainable development.


9

ECO-UNESCO is a FETAC accredited centre. In 2005 ECO-UNESCO developed its flagship Introduction to Sustainable Development Course. In 2009, ECO-UNESCO saw an increase in interest and participation in the Introduction to Sustainable Development FETAC Level 5 training (FETAC Award: Sustainable Development) . ECO-UNESCO ran the course three times in 2009 over three 10-week periods. The module introduces concepts of sustainability using Education for Sustainable Development methodologies. During the programme, participants explore systems thinking as a problem solving approach, learn how to conduct environmental audits, how to set sustainability indicators, conduct lifecycle analysis of consumer products as well as articulate a vision of sustainable community development and related goals. In 2009, ECO-UNESCO adapted a course module in ECO-Community Development FETAC Level 3 (FETAC Award: Community Development) and piloted the course with 24 participants. This course includes themes such as the community, community development, participation, empowerment, sustainability & project planning.

ECO-Choices Short Trainings

In 2009, the programme developed strong relations with the formal and non-formal education sector to deliver this training on both an outreach & in-house basis. Teachers and youth educators from organisations working with at-risk young people, early school leavers and marginalised groups were trained in ECO-UNESCO’s ECO-Choices training to develop their own alternative drug misuse prevention programmes.

ECO-Youth Choices Peer Education Training Programme

The ECO-Youth Choices Peer Education Programme worked with several young people from the Youth Reach Transition Centre as well as ethnic & cultural minority groups. The young people trained in the ECO-Youth Choices programme developed environmental action projects, facilitated environmental workshops to Peers as Peer Educators and participated in the Young Environmentalist Awards programme. They will continue to be involved with ECO-UNESCO as Peer Educators and will facilitate workshops on Social Personal Health Education (Drug Prevention), Drug Education, Sustainable Development & outdoor Environmental Education & Recreation in 2010.

The FETAC accredited courses were delivered to over 500 participants.

Youth for Sustainable Development

In 2009, ECO-UNESCO expanded its work on Education for Sustainable Development by introducing new programmes for young people and further researching, developing & piloting practical trainings for youth leaders and teachers.

Youth for Sustainable Development Short TrainingsThe Youth for Sustainable Development programme continued to research, develop, and deliver one-day trainings on Educa-tion for Sustainable Development key areas such as knowledge, risks, themes, perspectives, skills & values. Two new trainings, ECO-UNESCO’s Youth Work and Sustainability, and ECO-UNESCO’s Sustain it! Becoming a sustainable or-ganisation, were piloted as part of ECO-UNESCO’s Education and Training programme. Working directly with youth leaders and educators ensures that ECO-UNESCO can continue to promote Education for Sustainable Development in both the formal and non-formal sector across Ireland.

ECO-Choices Programme

ECO-UNESCO’s ECO-Choices programme is a drug misuse prevention programme using environmental education/education for sustainable development methods as a resource for positive personal development in young people. The programme continued to grow from strength to strength during 2009 and was highly sought after by those working with at risk young people on Drug Education across Ireland.

ECO-UNESCO: FETAC Accredited CentreEducation and Training Programme


10

Sharing good practice

ECO-UNESCO’s Youth for Sustainable Development programme held a seminar on Exploring Good Practice in Education for Sustainable Development. It was attended by over 50 educators, youth workers and other practitioners from the development, environmental and youth sectors. The purpose of the seminar was to share good practice in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) among practitioners within each of these sectors. The YSD Project Coordinator also attended a two week Development Education summer school in Romania in order to share our experiences of ESD and peer education and to improve the development of the YSD programme.

Youth for Sustainable Development

Peer Education Programme

The Youth for Sustainable Development Peer Education Programme uses interactive learning techniques to inspire, motivate and challenge young people to take action in favour of sustain-able development. The programme encourages young people to develop an awareness of global issues linking their own lives to young people in the developing world. Throughout the programme, young people gain a deeper understanding of sustainable development on a local and global level. They are trained in communication, facilitation and team building skills. After completing the 12 week workshop programme, completing a community based action project with peers and facilitation practice sessions supervised by ECO-UNESCO staff, the participants become peer educators.

In 2009 the Youth for Sustainable Development (YSD) Peer Education Programme expanded and trained more young people. Three groups of Peer Educators completed the 12 week Youth for Sustainable Peer Education Programme. Over 30 young people completed the programme in 2009. The learning objectives of the programme were developed and expanded, diversity of methods and activities were increased following on from ongoing evaluation of activities. As part of each 12 week programme the ECO-UNESCO Peer Education Programme partici-pants visited the National Ecology Centre and Phoenix Park and community gardens where they participated in interactive outdoor workshops.

The young people graduating from the initial 12 week programme in May continued their involvement with ECO-UNESCO and went on to complete an Action Project, as well as com-pleting facilitation practice sessions in order to move on to the next level of their training and become peer educators for sustainable development.

As part of their Action Project, the ECO-UNESCO Peer Educators made a documentary called ‘Cultural Diversity: Towards Sustainable Communities in Ireland’ with funding from the Lear-gas Youth in Action programme. This involved participative workshops, outdoor education, project planning, film training and interviewing people from the Africa Centre, Pavee Point Travellers Centre and Muslim Youth Ireland. The Action project continued from summer 2009 until the end of April 2010. The final film was screened to a number of youth audiences at the Irish Film Institute, The Greenhouse and online.

The YSD Peer Education Programme participants also took an active part in ECO-UNESCO’s National Youth ECO-Forum, speaking to the assembled young people, expert panel and Minis-ter for the Environment, John Gormley, to share their experiences and encourage their peers to take action. The group also took part in campaigns and actions throughout 2009 such as the Wave organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition in order to raise awareness among their peers of the need for strong fair action on climate change


11

Northern Ireland

ECO-UNESCO in Northern Ireland

ECO-UNESCO is committed to working with young people from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In 2009, ECO-UNESCO worked closely with environmental and youth organisations to share strategies for providing environmental education in Northern Ireland.

The ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards Programme is unique among other environmental initiatives because it brings young people from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland together in environmental action.

With support from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Environmental Education Forum Northern Ireland, ECO-UNESCO delivered trainings, attended conferences and engaged in cross-border development of environmental programmes for young people.

In association with the Environmental Education Forum Northern Ireland, ECO-UNESCO provided training to teachers and leaders interested in developing environmental action projects for the Young Environmentalist Awards. As a result of ECO-UNESCO’s increased involvement, many youth groups and schools from Northern Ireland participated in the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2009, with over 300 young people participating in both junior and senior categories. In fact, the Joint Overall Junior Winners were St. Catherine’s College, Co. Armagh - with their project Food Miles: Munch to Beat the Credit Crunch - and Banbridge High School, Co. Down with The A-Z of Global Warming.

Friend’s School Lisburn was one of a number of groups visited by ECO-UNESCO during the judging phase of the Young Environmentalist Awards.

Banbridge High School , Co Down.


12

Communications

Education Resources

ECO-UNESCO continued to develop resources and materials for schools and youth groups. Popular items included ECO-UNESCO’s environmental big-book for children The Great Rubbish Adventure, which follows the adventures of Ellen and Eoin as they discover where rubbish and waste really come from and the What’s So Hot About Climate Change? Action Pack released to coincide with the ECO-UNESCO National Youth ECO-Forum. ECO-UNESCO also began the development of new resources for release in 2010 including Energy Watchers and the ECO-Watchers Toolkit for teachers and leaders, as well as a Biodiversity Superpowers card game for young people.

The ECO-UNESCO newsletter was released in autumn and distributed to ECO-UNESCO members as well as thousands of people in libraries schools and youth centres across the country.

Events

As part of its outreach programme in 2009, ECO-UNESCO attended a number of events and conferences including:

• BT Young Scientist Exhibition• DICE Resource Fairs• Cork Global Fest• Spare Parts Festival• The Wave• Trinity College Green Week 2009 • National Greener Ireland Expo• EENGO Showcase• Cinemagic Festival (Dublin & Belfast)• Young Social Innovators Exhibition• Biodiversity Week• Sustainable Environment Fair• Green Energy Fair• DLR Festival of World Cultures• NYCI Youth Work Showcase

ECO-UNESCO appeared in over 150 media outlets including national newspaper, regional newspapers, radio and television. Elaine Nevin, National Director of ECO-UNESCO was interviewed as an expert in environmental education and youth work in both print and broadcast media. Many young participants also gained media attention as guest stars during newspaper, radio and TV interviews on programmes including RTE’s TTV and ICE.

ECO-UNESCO peer educators featured in the Irish Times

Media


13

Representation and Advocacy

ECO-UNESCO is an advocate for environmental education, education for sustainable development and environmental youth work. The organisation works to promote the role of young people in environmental education and environmental decision making in Ireland.

In 2009 ECO-UNESCO was represented on a variety of committees and boards including:

• COMHAR (Sustainable Development Council) and COMHAR Education and Awareness Working Group.

• National Youth Work Advisory Committee National Steering Committee on Education for Sustainable Development.

• Irish Environmental Network Board. • NYCI National Youth Development Education Programme Advisory Committee. • Advisory Committee for the Exploration Station, National Children’s Museum . • Regional Centre of Expertise in Education for Sustainable Development. • Tree Council of Ireland. • UBUNTU Network. • Drugs Educators Workers Forum. • Stop Climate Chaos. • Gum Litter Taskforce.

Collaborative WorkingDuring 2009, ECO-UNESCO continued to develop links and partnerships with agencies, organisations and businesses to provide environmental education, youth programmes and teacher and leader trainings in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

ECO-UNESCO collaborated with: a variety of Local Authorities throughout Ireland; Irish Environmental Network, Environmental Education Forum Northern Ireland, Northern Irish Environment Agency, Youth organisations including Youthreach Centres; private companies including Toyota Ireland.

ECO-UNESCO’s work with Local Authorities

ECO-UNESCO works with Local Authorities nationwide through funding from the Environmental Partnership Fund. The fund allows ECO-UNESCO to work with communities, fulfilling important aspects of the Local Agenda 21 remit. ECO-UNESCO builds the capacity of young people, teachers and leaders to address environmental issues.

In 2009, ECO-UNESCO was awarded funding from Environmental Partnership Funds of ten local authorities. With this funding, ECO-UNESCO was able to reach over 150 teachers and leaders and over 450 young people through trainings and workshops. ECO-UNESCO also developed a number of educational resources for schools and youth groups with this funding.

Young people learn to speak out through ECO-UNESCO’s Environmental Youth Programmes.


14

2009 AT A GLANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Funding

ECO-UNESCO is funded by a variety of organisations contributing to both the overall development of the organisation and project specific work. In 2009, ECO-UNESCO continued to increase funding by collaborating with national and European funding bodies.

Core funding

• Youth Service Grant, administered by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Additional European and national funding

• Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government administered by the Irish Environmental Network.

• Local Authorities nationwide under the Environmental Partnership Fund.• Youth in Action Fund, European funding administered in Ireland through Leargas.• Environmental Protection Agency.

Specific project funding

• ECO-Choices: Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund, administered by the Office of the Minster for Children and Youth Affairs

• Youth for Sustainable Development: Irish Aid (extension year of multi-annual funding)• Young Environmentalist Awards: Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local

Government; Northern Ireland Environment Agency Comhar, Sustainable Development Council.

• Phoenix Park Summer Programme : Office of Public Works. Sponsorship:ECO-UNESCO is working in a collaborative relationship with Toyota Ireland. Toyota is supporting ECO-UNESCO’s programmes through the donation of a Toyota Prius to the organisation; Toyota is also supporting the ECO-UNESCO Clubs programme by providing a special award and development fund as part of the Young Environmentalist Awards programme. ECO-UNESCO also receives funding through membership fees, resource sales and ad hoc donations.


15

2008 Shortlisted Projects

Where We Work

ECO-UNESCO travels all across Ireland and Northern Ireland to provide workshops, trainings and opportunities for people to learn more about the environment and education forsustainable development. Our Young Environmentalists come from every region in Ireland and the shortlisted groups represent the great diversity in Ireland’s environment and heritage.

ECO-UNESCOThe Greenhouse

17 St. Andrew StreetDublin 2

T: +353 1 6625491F: + 353 1 6625493

Email: [email protected]: www.ecounesco.ie

ECO-UNESCO is affi liated to the World Federation ofUNESCO clubs, centres and associations (WFUCA).

Irish Environmental Network

ECO-UNESCO is funded by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with Support of the National Lottery Funds

ECO-UNESCO is part-funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage & Local Government through the Irish Environmental Network

Eco unesco annual report 2009 web%20version%201

Documents

Transcript of Eco unesco annual report 2009 web%20version%201