Award success for Moate school

Moate Community School won the Further Growth Award at the national Young Environmentalist Awards on Thursday last. A record-breaking 500 applications were received this year.
Now in their 21st year, the Young Environmentalist Awards hosted by ECO-UNESCO recognises the efforts made by young people aged 10 to 18 years old across Ireland who have worked towards improving the environment. ECO-UNESCO, Ireland’s Environmental Education and Youth Organisation has seen over 50,000 young people involved in the Young Environmentalist Awards since 1999.
Moate Community School was awarded the Further Growth Award for their ongoing project of their sensory garden. TY students from the school get involved in this community project each year to look after the sensory garden for young adults with intellectual disabilities from St Hilda’s services in Moate.
Flood Assist from Coláiste Mhuire in Mullingar and The Plastic Plague from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Rochfortbridge were other Westmeath projects that were highly commended at the awards.
Due to Covid-19, the announcements were made online in place of an event which is usually hosted in Dublin each year. 
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland made an address while RTE Radio Presenter, Tara Stewart announced the winning projects. 
To celebrate the occasion while young people are at home, ECO-UNESCO organised a week-long set of events including workshops and webinars from key experts. The theme of ECO Week is food, fitness, fashion and your future.
“We have received more applications than ever this year and despite Covid-19 interruptions, young people have continued to work on their projects at home. Climate Change and biodiversity loss are becoming real threats and young people this year have shown through their YEA action projects how they are tackling some of these issues,” Elaine Nevin, National Director of ECO-UNESCO commented.
“We are blown away by the passion and motivation of this year's entries and their attitude towards making a positive environmental change.”