Short Summary
ECO-UNESCO is Ireland’s Environmental Education and Youth Organisation that works to conserve the environment and empower young people.
ECO-UNESCO is affiliated to the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA).
We work all across the island of Ireland and work with partners in Europe and internationally; we are affiliated to UNESCO as a Key partner of its Global Action Programme in ESD.
We work with young people in formal and nonformal settings, in secondary schools, youth services and communities across Ireland through our Young Environmentalist Awards, workshops, trainings or one of our affiliated ECO-UNESCO Clubs.
More About ECO UNESCO
ECO-UNESCO is one of Ireland's leading environmental education and youth organisations working to channel the passion, creativity, and energy of young people into positive environmental action. We inspire, educate, empower, and support young people to act through a range of programmes and services.
Founded in 1985, ECO-UNESCO is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. We work directly with young people aged 10-18 and 18-25, in formal and non-formal education settings (including schools, youth groups and communities), through experiential workshops, youth programmes, accredited and non-accredited training courses, employability programmes, events and action projects. Accredited QQI training courses are a key component of these programmes.
These programmes provide young people with the knowledge and skills they need to become peer educators and advocates for sustainable development. We enhance young people’s health and well-being through environmental education activities and provide opportunities to engage directly with politicians and key governmental decision-makers by organising meetings with Ministers and policymakers.
In addition, we deliver innovative programmes for a wide range of stakeholders including young people, teachers, youth leaders, local authorities, businesses and community leaders as well as participants from youth and community NGO’s.
We are funded by a variety of sources from national to European government and agencies contributing to both the overall development of the organisation and project specific work. We also receive funding from corporate sources, consultancy and membership and programme fees.
We work on an all-Ireland basis. Our headquarters are based in Dublin, and we operate across the island of Ireland, working with youth groups, schools and local authorities. We also work in partnership with UNESCO (the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation) through its Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) programme and are part of UNESCO’s Global ESD Net 2030.
Our mission is to protect the natural environment and empower young people by developing their knowledge, skills and confidence that channels their passion into positive and creative actions that helps create a sustainable planet.