YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALISTS:TODAY'S Transition Year students are perhaps more environmentally aware than any previous generation. Eco-Unesco's Young Environmentalist Awards and Sustainable Energy Ireland's One Good Idea campaign, however, have sought to turn good environmental intentions into action. This year's Eco-Unesco winner, Our School Garden from Youthreach in The Glen, Cork, were recognised for developing an organic garden on a once-derelict patch.

“We cleared a site and started planting all sorts of fruit and vegetables,” explains Tina Cronin, Youthreach horticulture teacher. “We’ve been able to sell some of the produce in the local community, and with the students taking part in a Fetac Hotel, Catering, and Tourism course, we’ve been able to use our own produce.”

Meanwhile, the SEI One Good Idea campaign challenges students to raise awareness about an environmental initiative. This year’s winners, Loreto High School in Beaufort, Co Dublin, were recognised for their project, “The Sandwich Stops”. The students surveyed the amount of children driven to school and handed out “penalty points” for those who congested the school entrance. The number of students cycling to school increased from 18 to 35 per cent.

In the SEI campaign, the senior prize went to Blackwater Community School in Lismore, Co Waterford, for their project “The Foodies”, which sought to raise local awareness of how food miles impact on the environment. “We wanted to show how locally produced food – such as beef from Ireland instead of Brazil – can not only help the local economy but save energy,” says student Rosemary Hickey. “We wrote to politicians and campaigned locally. Local produce is fresher, healthier, and always in season.”

www.ecounesco.ie

www.sei.ie/powerofone