A group of young people from St Brigid’s College in Callan, Co Kilkenny made a successful pitch to judges at a Dragon’s Den-style ‘Eco-Den’, hosted by Eco-Unesco in Dublin on March 31 and April 1.
Ann-Marie Kennedy, Bríd Lyons, Orla Phelan and Joanne Cushen of St Brigid’s College were competing in the regional finals of the Eco-Unesco’s Young Environmentalist Awards 2011. The group’s project investigated the effect of soil enhancer (waste material out of a bio-digester ) on plants and also investigated the rate of growth in the plants.
They pitched their project to the panel of expert judges to convince them that their group should attend the grand final of the Eco-Unesco Young Environmentalist Awards 2011 showcase and ceremony in Dublin on May 18.
The group inspired a panel of expert judges – Elaine Nevin, the National Director of Eco-Unesco; Dr Karen McCauley, Ombudsman for Children; Kevin Forde, Department of the Environment; Dean Eaton, Environmental Awareness Officer, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council; Sandra Smith, Environmental Awareness Officer, Dublin City Council; and Mattie Crowe, Environmental Protection Agency.
Kilkenny people can show their support for the young people by voting for the group in a nationwide online poll ‘The People’s Choice Award’, for which the group have also been shortlisted. Visit www.ecounesco.ie to cast your vote, and you can help the group ensure an appearance in the final Eco-Unesco showcase and awards ceremony on May 18.
Eco-Unesco, Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation, is looking forward to seeing the ideas and projects from the best and brightest young environmentalists from around Ireland.
Groups successful in the regional finals have a chance to attend the annual National Showcase and Awards Ceremony event held each May. There, participants will get a chance to showcase their work, meet TV celebrities and win fantastic prizes. The showcase is open to the public and will take place on May 18.
Eco-Unesco gives young people who are carrying out an environmental action project with their schools or youth groups the chance to be a part of the Young Environmentalist Awards.
“With participation hitting record levels, and more innovative and creative projects than ever before, we’re really looking forward to what promises to be Ireland’s biggest celebration of young people taking environmental action,” said Elaine Nevin, National Director of Eco-Unesco.
“This year for the first time, regional judging events called Eco-Dens took place across Ireland. These were a tremendous success, giving young people from around Ireland the chance to make a pitch to a panel of experts, tell the judges how their project makes a difference to their local communities and environment, and why they should be in the shortlist for the all-island finals in Dublin come May 18.”
