You might have seen a lot of activity on our social media accounts towards the end of November promoting a very special event in Cork.
During three days in November, Green-Schools Ireland played host to the annual Eco-Schools National Operator Meeting 2018. The Green-Schools programme (known globally as Eco-Schools) is operated in Ireland by An Taisce and is the Irish member of the Foundation for Environmental Education(FEE); an international non-profit aimed at promoting sustainable development through environmental education.

The much-anticipated conference launched the celebrations of the 25th Anniversary of the Eco-Schools Programme. Eco-Schools National Operators from over 67 countries traveled to Cork to participate in the meeting where they discussed, exchanged experiences, participated in professional development sessions and made their contributions to the development of the Eco-Schools programme. The conference agenda focused on the themes of ‘Climate and OceansLiteracy’, plus the Sustainable Development Goals and their connection to the Green flag programme. In 2015, UN leaders agreed to 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for a better world by 2030. Guided by these goals, the Eco-Schools programme enables young people to take action and create real measurable change globally.

Green-Schools would like to thank the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Irish Water, Cork County Council, Fáilte Ireland, Bus Eireann and the Cork Convention Bureau for supporting this event.

Four schools in Cork joined the event, enlightening the international audience with their inspiring presentations and performances. The participating students had the opportunity to engage in dialogues directly with Eco-School delegates from around the world. We would also like to especially thank the Water Ambassador students Onome Akhilomen and Jessie McCarthy from Middleton College, St. Colmans Community College, Marine Environment schools Scoil Cholmcille C.B.S and St. Colman’s Boys National School, all of whom motivated the participants with new vigour and energy.

Following the success of the Eco-Scools Nom, Green-Schools were honoured to be awarded the title of Cork Conference Ambassador 2018!

See photos from this exciting conference on our Flickr Page.