Opportunities and Challenges in Environmental education and education for sustainable development

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GREEN PATHWAYS PROGRAMME ECO-UNESCO
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About ECO-UNESCO

• Irelands environmental education and youth
  organisation - Est. in 1986
• Specialise in environmental education and
• and environmental youth work
• Affiliated to the World Federation of UNESCO
  Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA)
• FETAC accredited provider since 2005 developed
  first FETAC course in Sustainable Development in
  Ireland

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What do we do?

• Run a wide range of youth programmes and
  education initiatives.
• We are a youth organisation.
• We are a also a specialist provider of training
  programmes and courses aimed at those under 25.
• Deliver both accredited and non-accredited
  training programmes.

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The Scale of our Work

• Over 10,000 people directly participate annually
• National / YEA all-Ireland programme
• A team of
• 10 full time staff
• 3 TUS community workers
• 1 x FAS WPP
• 1 x Jobbridge
• 4 Interns

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ECO-UNESCO sGreen Pathways Programme
Free education and training projects to allow
6,500 jobseekers (who are unemployed for 12
months or more) to gain skills and to access work
opportunities in identified growing sectors
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What is the Green Pathways Programme?

• ECO-UNESCOs Green Pathways programme is designed
  
• To ensure that we avoid the creation of lost
  generations of young people.
• To help people who are disadvantaged, due to
  long-term unemployment, get back to work.
• For Young people in particular as they are very
  susceptible to the damaging, scarring effects of
  unemployment
• To provide a solid foundation for them to gain
  employment and/or continue in further education
  and training that will progress them into
  employment.

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Aims

• ECO-UNESCOs Green Pathways is aimed at
  increasing the career prospects of unemployed
  young people (aged 25 and under)
• Participants gain
• employability training,
• specialist accredited training modules
• project support and work placements
• They have three pathways to choose from
• Green Leadership
• Green Enterprise
• Green Youth and Community
• To enable them to make a professional
  contribution to the local and national labour
  market and to prepare them for life-long learning

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Background to the programme

• ECO-UNESCO works in the area of youth development
  and environmental awareness
• Mixing our youth work and our specialist
  knowledge and training expertise for
  opportunities in the Green Economy
• Green economy has been highlighted by government
  action plan for jobs as a key area for development

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Who is Green Pathways aimed at?

• Young people (aged 25 and under)
• Unemployed and on the live register for more than
  1 year
• Participants must be committed to completing the
  programme
• gaining accreditation
• progressing to employment and/or further or
  higher education

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The Pathways

• Green Leader aimed at those have a interest in
  environment, education, training, leadership.
  This will increase professional development of
  young people
• Green Enterprise aimed at those that want to
  set up a business or work in business.
  Participants develop business skills through
  training and the development of a business plan
• Green Youth/Community aimed at those who want
  to work in the youth and community sector.
  Up-skill in youth peer education
• No specific entry levels are stipulated but
  participants require baseline literacy and
  elementary computer skills

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What does the Programme Involve?
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Outcomes of programme

• By the end of this programme, participants will
  have
• Undertaken a package of relevant certified
  training and work placement
• Developed a portfolio of transferrable job skills
• Been introduced to the range, nature and
  expectations of the workplace
• Been supported through the challenges of
  job-search and linked to employment opportunities
• Progressed onto work or further education

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Prospects for the Green economy

• The green economy is an emerging job space which
  is opening up employment opportunities in a wide
  range of areas including energy efficiency,
  corporate social responsibility, green enterprise
  and sustainable development.
• The Government Action Plan for Jobs 2012
  highlights the green economy as a key area for
  growth and investment.

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What are the progression opportunities?

• We have linked up with DIT (MSc Local Development
  and Innovation and the MSc in Sustainable
  Development)
• We have also linked up with various potential
  work placement opportunities including, the EPA,
  City Composting, IKEA, and Sunflower Recycling
• In addition, participants will organise a market
  place event inviting potential employers to
  showcase their work from the course. This will be
  a valuable experience in event management and in
  networking

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Key Information

• 18-20hrs per week
• 27 weeks
• 9 weeks of training and education
• 18 weeks work placement
• Support throughout programme
• 1 to 1 mentoring sessions
• Group assignment support every week
• Computer and study facilities

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What have the outcomes been to date?

• Green Pathways 1 28 participants have currently
  come through intensive training phase (9 weeks)
  they are currently on work placement
• Green Pathways 2 started 23rd May 26
  participants currently attending training phase

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What participants say

• Green Pathways has helped me by refreshing my
  business skills and updating my CV. My experience
  so far has been great I have learned a lot and
  have met loads of new people.
• Amy Corr, Green Pathways Student
• Green Pathways has helped me to be a better
  communicator. I have also learned a lot about the
  environment and I enjoy the group activities.
• Rachel Maguire, Green Pathways Student

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What participants say

• I have grown more confident in myself and my
  abilities. Working in groups of different sizes
  and with different people has increased my
  communication and assertiveness skills. I have
  also gained invaluable business knowledge, which
  I am putting into practice and expanding upon in
  my work placement.
• Kate Turner, Green Pathways Student
• Its great. The people and peers are lovely
  people to work with. Its a comfortable
  environment to learn new things. The quality of
  work is to the best of the best. Green Pathways
  has given me the confidence to believe myself and
  motivate others. its shown me that not only I
  am capable but proud to be me to my full
  potential.
• James Core

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Case Studies

• Green Leader Dee
• Dee has a MSc in Biodiversity and Conservation
  and a Hons BAgSc in Agri-Environmental Science
• Dee wants to work in the biodiversity area and
  she needs specific work experience, particularly
  in lab work.
• CV work was valuable to Dee and her 19 weeks work
  experience is in the EPA (Environmental
  Protection Agency)

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Case Studies

• Green Business John
• John left school after Junior Certificate
• He has a FETAC level 5 in Sustainable
  Construction Technology but he had no previous
  work experience
• John is taking the green enterprise pathway
• Through ECO-UNESCO connections he was given the
  opportunity to interview with a green
  construction company. He was delighted when he
  got the placement including extra paid work

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Case Studies

• Youth and Community Lynn
• Previous experience included FETAC level 3 in
  childcare
• By the end of the programme Lynn will have gained
  3 FETAC level 5 modules through the Youth and
  Community pathway
• CV work was valuable and the 19 weeks work
  experience is currently underway in a crèche.
  They plan to offer her employment at the end of
  the placement

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What have the challenges been?

• For ECO-UNESCO
• It can be difficult to recruit long term
  unemployed to engage in a programme
• The long term unemployed have very specific
  needs. Many have limited experience of
  education, training or employment
• A lot of additional support is needed for the
  group. This means additional resourcing from a
  staff perspective.
• There is a comprehensive support programme in
  place in green pathways which has helped
  retention
• Many of the participants have low self-esteem.
  Getting them past this involves an approach
  centred on the needs of the individual

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What have the challenges been?

• For the participants
• Many had not been in education for a while and
  had negative experiences from school
• Lack of confidence in their abilities
• Lack of access to basic computer facilities at
  home
• Peer pressure
• A wide range of personal issues such as mental
  health, substance abuse, a criminal past, and
  homelessness

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Green Pathways Class
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Group Work
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Green Pathways Site Visit to Urban Farm
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What are the opportunities?

• Integrated programme providing accredited
  trainings work placement support programme
• As a youth organisation we understand the needs
  of young people
• A 6 month programme allows for both training and
  meaningful work experience
• The comprehensive support programme has been very
  important to the participants both personally and
  professionally

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What are the opportunities?

• Green Pathways foundation programme (FETAC Level
  3)
• Participants are forming positive new friendships
• Improving their communication skills
• Provides opportunities for a specialist approach
  i.e. with a special focus on green and can
  help access opportunities in the green economy

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For further information please contact
ECO-UNESCO'the greenhouse'17 St., Andrew St.,
Dublin 2T 00 353 (0) 1 6625491F 00 353 (0)
1 6625493E info_at_ecounesco.ieW
www.ecounesco.ie  ECO-UNESCO Conserving the
Environment Empowering Young People