Eco kids help beat recession

The internationally acclaimed environmental programme, run by TIDY Northern Ireland, is rapidly expanding through the province's schools, and the lessons being learned by the younger generation are not only benefiting the environment but having an impact on how their families deal with the current financial crisis.

Hannah Alison, a Primary Six pupil at Holy Family Primary School in Belfast, is one Eco-Committee member who is re-educating the older generation.

The Eco-Schools programme encourages children and teenagers to adopt an environmentally friendly attitude on a wide range of topics, and in turn educate their parents and friends in how to implement measures that will have financial benefits.

Findings show that Eco-Schools pupils are saving money through the conservation of energy and water, as well as reducing fuel and transport costs by changing the way they travel to school when compared to non Eco-Schools pupils. Schools that have achieved a Green Flag have been able to reduce the amount of waste they produce by an average of 45%, and their pupils are also more likely to participate in local environmental projects, recycle materials within the home and are less likely to drop litter.

A third of the province's schools are currently registered on the programme, with Holy Family Primary School becoming the 100th recipient of the prestigious Eco-School Green Flag Award. Coagh Primary School also recently became the 400th school to register for the scheme, which provides a simple framework to enable schools to analyse its operations and become more sustainable, reducing the environmental impact of the whole school on the community.

"It's great to witness the enthusiasm of school children when it comes to addressing environmental issues," said Dr Ian Humphreys, CEO of TIDY Northern Ireland who runs the programme within the province. "They are not only making their schools more environmentally aware, but they are bringing the message home and reminding their parents of the benefits of living responsibly. Instead of parents complaining about having to delve into their pockets to fund their children's spending, it makes a surprising change to hear parents say their children have helped them save money - something that is particularly relevant in the current financial climate."

Run internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), Eco-Schools involves over five million pupils across 46 countries. In recognition of the efforts of Northern Ireland's pupils and teachers, FEE President, Jan Eriksen, and Director, Finn Bolding Thomsen, have travelled to the province to acknowledge the achievements made by local primary and post primary schools.

The Eco-Schools programme is a pupil led initiative that involves the entire school. It deals with topics including biodiversity, litter, waste, energy, water, transport, healthy living and school grounds.