Toyota Ireland is proud to announce that it will fund some of Ireland’s up and coming young environmentalists through the awarding of €10,000 in seed grants to ECO-UNESCO’s clubs across Ireland. ECO-UNESCO is Ireland’s environmental education and youth organisation and its clubs provide an outlet for young people to come together and help the environment and their local communities in a fun and meaningful way.
Toyota will award grants to ten chosen ECO-UNESCO clubs participating in its ‘Clubs in Action’ programme. The grants which range from €250 for a Bronze Seed Grant up to €1,000 for a Gold Seed Grant, will be used to implement important environmental activities including energy saving, recycling, eco-transport, local clean-ups, tree planting and other environmental awareness raising activities. The grant giving will be further complemented by the involvement and guidance of staff from Toyota dealerships across the country, many of whom are being trained as ECO-Leaders by ECO-UNESCO.
ECO-UNESCO’s ‘Clubs in Action’ initiative is supported on a European level by the Toyota Fund for Europe, which grants financial support to local projects that have the potential to have a positive impact on the local environment and society. As a key partner, Toyota Ireland also sponsors the ECO-UNESCO Club of the Year Award, and has provided an eco-friendly Toyota Prius to the organisation.
Clubs wishing to apply for a grant can do so by registering online at www.ecounesco.ie
Commenting on the programme, David Shannon, Managing Director at Toyota Ireland said: ‘Toyota has long been a proponent of, and leader in, environmental sustainability -- a position which is reflected in our commitment to sustainable mobility and the continued research and development we engage in to ensure a greener future.
'We are delighted to partner with ECO-UNESCO and provide the resources to help the very people who will inherit our communities to positively influence, generate awareness for and ensure the future protect of their local environments today.'
Elaine Nevin, National Director of ECO-UNESCO commented:
“We are delighted that ECO-UNESCO and Toyota are working together in this way. ECO-UNESCO’s national remit is raising environmental awareness in Ireland’s young people as well as promoting practical lifestyle options; we see this mutually beneficial relationship as furthering this goal. ECO-UNESCO’s Clubs in Action programme provides a platform for Clubs throughout Ireland to take practical action that benefits their Club, their community and their environment.”
