Title: Opportunities and Challenges in Environmental education and education for sustainable development
1GREEN PATHWAYS PROGRAMME ECO-UNESCO
2About 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
3What 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.
4The 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
5ECO-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
6What 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.
7Aims
- 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
8Background 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
9Who 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
10The 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
11What does the Programme Involve?
12Outcomes 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
13Prospects 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.
14What 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
15Key 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
16What 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
17What 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
18What 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
19Case 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)
20Case 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
21Case 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
22What 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
23What 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
24Green Pathways Class
25Group Work
26Green Pathways Site Visit to Urban Farm
27What 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
28What 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
29For 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