Local school competes in Young Environmentalist Awards
Ardnagrath National School pupils were among those who competed in the semi-finals of ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) which took place yesterday (Tuesday).
Young people from schools and youth groups across Leinster and Connacht participated in the event at the Galmont Hotel in Galway city.
ECO-UNESCO’s Young Environmentalist Awards is an all-island programme that recognises the work of young people, who have taken environmental action in their school or community and come up with creative solutions to solve environmental issues.
A total of 23 teams competed in the ‘ECO-Dens’, as the semi-finals are known, to win a place in the final of the Young Environmentalist Awards in Dublin in May.
The Ardnagrath NS team consisted of James Cronolly, Donnacha Brady, Chloe McGee, Eoghan Sullivan, Jake Martin, Mattie Keane, Fiona Healion and Mark Vargovcik.
Young environmental activists, including those from Ardnagrath NS, met with local councillors to highlight litter blackspots and researched other international cities about how they manage waste.
The regional ECO-Den on Tuesday was one of four provincial semi-finals held across the country in March, with the winners of each advancing to the final.
Speaking at yesterday’s semi-finals, Elaine Nevin, national director of ECO-UNESCO, said: “The ECO-Dens and Young Environmentalist Awards are some of the most exciting events in the ECO-UNESCO calendar. It is great to continue this year’s provincial semi-finals at the Galmont Hotel again.
"The passion and problem-solving initiative of these young people’s projects, offers great hope for the fight against climate change and reminds us that we can all play our part, from a community to a national level.”
Ms Nevin continued: “This year, we have over 500 young people representing 78 groups across 26 counties, with projects addressing key problems like climate change, biodiversity, and waste. With such a high standard of entries, it certainly won’t be an easy decision for our judges.
"We are excited to see who makes the final and look forward to crowning winners across 30 junior and senior level categories in May. Regardless, the real winner is the future of climate activism, in the safe hands of these incredibly bright young people.”
See https://ecounesco.ie for more information.