GREEN PATHWAYS PROGRAMME
ECO-UNESCO
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
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.
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
ECO-UNESCO’ s
Green 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
What is the Green Pathways Programme?

ECO-UNESCO’s 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.
Aims

ECO-UNESCO’s 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:
1.
2.
3.

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
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

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
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
What does the Programme Involve?
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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

It’s great. The people and peers are lovely people
to work with. It’s 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. it’s shown me that not only I am capable
but proud to be me to my full potential.
James Core

Case Studies
Green Leader – Dee
Dee has a MSc in Biodiversity and
Conservation and a Hons BAgSc in AgriEnvironmental 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)
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
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

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
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
Green Pathways Class
Group Work
Green Pathways Site Visit to Urban Farm
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

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

For further information please
contact
ECO-UNESCO
'the greenhouse'
17 St., Andrew St.,
Dublin 2
T: 00 353 (0) 1 6625491
F: 00 353 (0) 1 6625493
E: info@ecounesco.ie
W: www.ecounesco.ie
ECO-UNESCO –
Conserving the Environment;
Empowering Young People