Young people around the world are doing splendid work to transform their societies through innovative use of ICTs. It’s important that we highlight these projects to inspire others to use technology and their know-how for safeguarding the environment. But too many young people have limited or no access to the ICT tools they need to strengthen their environmental work: advocacy, fund-raising, project implementation and campaigns.

One project that has been enabling youngsters to be more environmentally conscious is ENO-Environment Online, a global virtual school and network for sustainable development and environmental awareness based in Findland. Since its launch a decade ago, thousands of schools from 124 countries have tapped into the vast online resources and tools it makes readily available to them at no cost.

ENO environmental education tools for youth, which are used for learning and communication between participating schools, are varied: from basic tools such as word processors and spreadsheet programs, to more technical tools like digital and video cameras. Exposing young people to basic media tools and skills such as audio recording and editing is important given the dependence on radio for information in much of the developing world. (more on ENO Radio). These tools are delivered by a coordinator and frequently updated based on surveys of schools and local communities. ENO notes that The Research and Development Center for IT in Education helped to fashion and select the tools used.

So effective has this environmental education program been that the Global Knowledge Partnership(GKP), which has presented several Youth and ICT-related awards in collaboration with various partners since 2003, named ENO’s Education Department Coordinator Mika Vanhanen a youth and ICT leader at the launch of the award.

ENO’s approach is a testament to collaborative learning and how potent that can be when ICT tools are made available widely at little or no cost to users. Participating schools are merely required to sign-up for a login and participate in a tree planting day at least once per year between May 22 and September 21.