Young Reporters for the Environment - Ireland

16/10/2026

How can we build a food system that works for people and the planet?

From soil health and food waste to sustainable farming and food security, young people are investigating the issues shaping our food future through Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE).

🏆 Last year, our award-winning young reporters explored these challenges through powerful stories, including:
https://yreireland.exposure.co/reviving-the-soil-how-microbes-could-secure-the-future-of-farming
https://yreireland.exposure.co/an-empty-plate-is-climate-change-eating-our-future
https://yreireland.exposure.co/battling-food-security-by-growing-up
https://yreireland.exposure.co/bean-by-bean-change-begins

Our YRE Food Literacy lesson plans and resources help teachers bring food sustainability into the classroom using the YRE 4-Step Methodology — empowering students to investigate environmental issues, develop media literacy skills and communicate solutions that make a difference.

http://www.yreireland.org/YRE-Resources.php

15/10/2026

Meet the two talented winners of last year's Young Reporters for the Environment Awards! 🏆 🏆

Campus National Winner Varvara Vasylchenko for ✍️ Article Writing and Senior National Winner Photography 📸 Yuming Lian reported at the National Youth Assembly on Climate and their work will be shared via AnTaisce.org and our social media channels!

We are also really delighted that two of the Green-Schools Marine Ambassadors also attended the National Youth Assembly too this year! 👏👏👏

14/10/2026

Join us tomorrow lunchtime for the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) launch and learn How to Write a Compelling Story with special guest speaker Sylvia Thompson, Environment Features Writer with The Irish Times.

Discover how to:
🔎 Find a strong story
📝 Build a compelling article
🎤 Ask the right questions
📚 Research and use credible evidence
🌱 Bring environmental issues to life for your audience

Plus, hear from our YRE ambassadors about their own experiences as young environmental reporters.

📅 Thursday 15 October
⏰ 1–2pm
💻 Online via Zoom

Whether you're interested in articles, photography, video or podcasts, YRE gives you the opportunity to investigate the issues that matter to you, tell powerful stories and share your work with a national and international audience. 🌎

👉 Register now and start your YRE journey!https://eeu-antaisce-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yHZuJ72mTYCj2eUSeVrEsA

16/06/2026

Massive congratulations to Grace Cunnane from St Mary's Secondary School in Ballina!

She's now won the International Young Reporters for the Environment's 2nd place Video Category! 👏🏆 She won the Irish National Award last month!

Her brilliant video essay explores the environmental impact of the overconsumption of animal products and commercial animal agriculture with a particular focus on its effects on Ireland and the wider planet.

You can check out her video via competition Exposure page: https://yrecompetition.exposure.co/ireland-28

Young Reporters for the Environment
St. Marys Secondary School, Ballina
An Taisce The National Trust for Ireland
Green-Schools

11/06/2026

Brilliant event last night for the Campus Young Reporters for the Environment Awards (19-25 years) 🏆

Fantastic evening! Winners of 2026 YRE Campus awards were attending with their parents in Marino Institute of Education in Dublin.

We were delighted to have Yuming Lian (with camera in images) who is the recent winner of Senior (15-18 years) National YRE Photography Award 2026 taking the official photos! 📷

We were honoured that the awards were presented by Lee Wray-Davies, Director of Education at FEE and YRE Ireland Programme Manager Claire McDonald.

Campus Category winners:
National Winner,
Joint Third: Fionn Murray, Dunboyne College of Further Education, ‘How We Can Prevent Our Own Extinction’

Campus Category
National Winner, Joint Third:
Lily Kelly, Dunboyne College of Further Education
‘An Empty Plate: Is Climate Change Eating Our Future’

Campus Category
National Winner Second Place: Deimante Ciparyte and Varvara Vasylchenko, Trinity College Dublin, ‘Battling Food Security by Growing Up’

Campus Category National Winner First Place:
Varvara Vasylchenko, Trinity College Dublin
‘Reviving the soil: How microbes could secure the future of farming’

You can see all of the winning entries on the YRE Exposure page: https://yreireland.exposure.co/

Trinity College Dublin
Dunboyne College of Further Educationynecollegefe
Eco-Campus
Young Reporters for the Environment
Marino Institute of Education
Green-Campus

10/06/2026

09/06/2026

Please check out YRE winner Angelina Shebela Vasilyeva's great work as part of Young Reporters for the Environment Bow Seat: Creative Action for Conservation virtual exhibition! 👏✨🏆

Here's what she has to say about her piece:

"My name is Angelina Shebela Vasilyeva, the National Winner of the Senior Article Category in the Young Reporters for the Environment competition in Ireland.

My article, "Bean by Bean, Change Begins", is based on Chuhan Shan’s artwork "Gandhi of Grain" and explores the connections between art, climate change, and food security. Through the article, I discuss the artwork itself, the impacts of climate change on agriculture and crop yields, global hunger, the work of Vandana Shiva and her connection to the themes represented in the artwork, the idea of being a “climate hero,” and the powerful role that art can play in communicating important environmental messages. I conclude with reflections on how we can help protect our planet for future generations.

I greatly enjoyed writing this article. As an artist myself, I found Chuhan Shan’s creative use of beans as an artistic medium particularly fascinating. Researching "Gandhi of Grain", Vandana Shiva’s work, and the wider topics of climate change and food security allowed me to explore new perspectives and deepen my understanding of these important issues. This project was both educational and inspiring, and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to connect environmental themes with artistic expression."

The gallery is now open.

Explore a one-of-a-kind collaboration between Bow Seat and Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE), where young people from around the world have inspired one another through art, photography, and journalism.

Each collaboration brings together three interconnected works:
An Bow Seat artwork
A YRE Photo
A YRE article

Together, they form ten creative networks that explore environmental issues through different perspectives, and lived experiences.

Step into the virtual gallery and discover the stories: YRE Virtual Gallery — Young Reporters for the Environment

09/06/2026

How the international decisions are made! 🏆

08/06/2026

Please check out YRE winner Angelina Shebela Vasilyeva's great work on the Young Reporters for the Environment's International Exposure page! 👏✨🏆

Here's what she has to say about her piece:

"My name is Angelina Shebela Vasilyeva, the National Winner of the Senior Article Category in the Young Reporters for the Environment competition in Ireland.

My article, "Bean by Bean, Change Begins", is based on Chuhan Shan’s artwork "Gandhi of Grain" and explores the connections between art, climate change, and food security. Through the article, I discuss the artwork itself, the impacts of climate change on agriculture and crop yields, global hunger, the work of Vandana Shiva and her connection to the themes represented in the artwork, the idea of being a “climate hero,” and the powerful role that art can play in communicating important environmental messages. I conclude with reflections on how we can help protect our planet for future generations.

I greatly enjoyed writing this article. As an artist myself, I found Chuhan Shan’s creative use of beans as an artistic medium particularly fascinating. Researching "Gandhi of Grain", Vandana Shiva’s work, and the wider topics of climate change and food security allowed me to explore new perspectives and deepen my understanding of these important issues. This project was both educational and inspiring, and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to connect environmental themes with artistic expression."

Chuhan Shan: "Although the process was really hard and exhausting, I enjoyed putting beans on the canvas and creating my final work." (Gandhi of Grain) A PORTRAIT WITH PURPOSE: "Gandhi of Grain" is, on the surface, a lovely, creative piece of art. Under each thoughtfully positioned bean is a message...

02/06/2026

Have you visited the YRE Virtual Gallery yet? Come explore the inspiring 2024–2025 international winning entries!

While you’re there, take part in our challenge:
🎬 Share a screen recording of your favourite avatar move or moment in the gallery for a chance to be featured in a video showcasing YRE visitors from around the world! Tag us in your video post to be a part of the challenge.

Access the YRE Metasteps Metaverse Gallery here: https://www.yre.global/virtual-gallery

With special thanks to YRE's National Operators, including:
- Mladí reportéri pre životné prostredie
- Mladi poročevalci za okolje
- Mladi eko-reporteri
- Jeunes Reporters pour l'Environnement