Bridging the Climate Justice Gap: Localise and Education for Sustainability Supporting Youth-Led Action in Dublin Communities
Young climate activists from across North Dublin gathered on 24 February, 2025 to celebrate their remarkable achievements in community-based climate action. The Climate Justice Graduation Ceremony, held in partnership between Education for Sustainability and Localise, showcased how youth leadership can transform local communities through practical environmental initiatives.
The ceremony brought together 375 students from ten schools across North Dublin’s DEIS-banded institutions, marking the successful completion of 20 innovative climate justice projects. Tarren Leigh Agnew-Skalska from Education for Sustainability joined Derek Cleary, Director of Localise, and Councillor Janet Horner to recognise these outstanding youth achievements.
Student representatives from participating schools shared powerful testimonials about their experiences, demonstrating how hands-on volunteering transformed their understanding of climate justice. The event highlighted projects ranging from creating sensory gardens for visually impaired individuals to developing sustainable food security initiatives for elderly residents.
Co-ordinator, Tarren Leigh Agnew-Skalska says: “I was truly amazed by the students. They were fully engaged and nothing could stop them from assisting those in their community—whether it was gardening, painting, singing at day centres, shopping for care packages, or chatting with hospital patients.
Their understanding of social issues was unparalleled; they deserve to be part of policy discussions, and their voices need to be heard! I was deeply impressed by how attuned the students were to the real needs of their community, as well as their openness and authenticity in considering the needs of marginalised groups. It requires immense empathy and compassion to engage in such meaningful reflection.”
The ceremony, featuring presentations from participating schools and the distribution of Climate Justice Graduation 2024 certificates, celebrated not just the completion of projects but the emergence of a new generation of environmental leaders. As students networked with community partners and shared their experiences, it became clear that this initiative has sparked a lasting movement for climate action in North Dublin.
To find out more about the project, please read our case study.
If you are interested in partnering with Education for Sustainability on your community project, please contact Tarren Leigh at tarrenleigh@educationforsustainability.ie
