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Tralee Projects Among Finalists In ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards

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Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí students who reached the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards. final with their Bia Beo project.

SEVEN youth projects from Kerry have reached the final of this year’s ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards.

Almost 500 applications were received, which is a record breaking number despite the covid interruptions. ECO-UNESCO will be announcing the winner’s virtually on the 21st of May through YouTube live and social media platforms.

Tralee-based finalists are Bia Beo from Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí, and Inaction is an Action – Mercy Mounthawk.

Brothers, Evan, Alex and Dylan Nealon from Lixnaw have also made it to the final for their canal clean up in Tralee, while other Kerry entrants are Flower Power – KDYS (Kerry Diocesan Youth Service); Self-Sustainable Sem from St. Brendan’s College, Killarney, Good Reason To Eat In Season from Sneem National School and The Global Gang – Castleisland Community College.

The Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) recognises and rewards young people aged 10-18 who have taken environmental action and created projects that will help solve environmental issues. The event sees more than 4,000 participants each year. Although schools are closed during this time, young people are still continuing their environmental projects at home.

Elaine Nevin, Director of ECO-UNESCO said “We are delighted at the quality of applications this year and we cannot wait to announce this year’s winners. Young people are still taking eco action and continuing their projects at home, despite the pandemic.  In light of this we are holding an ECO Week to celebrate the young people who are enthusiastic about making an environmental difference.”

An event that usually brings schools and community groups together from all over Ireland to showcase their projects, will now be a week-long celebration while Covid-19 restrictions are in place. ECO Week 2020 will be held from 18th to 22nd May and will include a range of environmental workshops, well-being activities, talks, and challenges for young people alongside the YEA Winner announcements.

The theme of ECO Week 2020 is Food, Fitness, Fashion and your Future. The aim of ECO Week to celebrate the achievements of young activists, to allow young people to explore career opportunities in environmentalism and to educate them on a range of environmental topics.