Students present on social issues
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YSI Team ‘Men’s Mental Health’, Coláiste an Chroí Naofa, Carraig na bhFear.Image 2 of 4
YSI Team’s Progress is Perfect!’, Mount Mercy College, Cork City.Image 3 of 4
YSI Team ‘Wildlife in BCS’, Ballincollig Community School, Ballincollig.Image 4 of 4
YSI Team ‘Breaking Bias’ Ballincollig Community School, Ballincolig.More than 40 students from across Cork attended the official launch of Young Social Innovators’ Speak Out Tour in Cork City Hall recently.
The students took to the stage to address the social issues shaping their lives and communities.
The City Hall event, which took place over 3-4 March, marked the beginning of a national tour, which will continue throughout March, co-hosted by Cork and Dublin City Councils alongside other local authorities.
The students presented on topics that they had been working on for the past year through creative speeches or performances presented to a panel of professionals worrying in relevant fields and other participating young people.
Some of the young people who attended presented projects focusing on sustainability and environmental responsibility, the importance of first aid knowledge and defibrillator mapping, and improving wheelchair accessibility in public spaces.
They also tackled health and wellbeing topics, including nutrition, screen time, breast cancer awareness, and the impact of toxic relationships.
Other teams raised awareness around drink spiking and examined the growing role of artificial intelligence in young people’s lives.
Each team presented before peers, educators, guests, and the YSI Speak Out Panel, receiving feedback and recognition for their work and social impact.
Labour Party Cllr Ciara O’Connor welcomed the students and commended their creativity, courage, and commitment to positive change.
“To the young people presenting today, I want to say this clearly: your voice matters. Your ideas matter. Your courage matters.
“You are shaping ideas that make schools, communities and our city stronger, more inclusive and more compassionate.
Cork is a city that believes in youth voice. We know that our city’s future is stronger when young people feel empowered to speak up, to question, to disrupt, to create - and most importantly, to act,” she said.
YSI was founded in 2001 as a youth-led social innovation education programme, “empowering young people to develop solutions to social, environmental, and community challenges,” according to a spokesperson.
YSI is partnered with local authorities, as well as the Departments of Rural and Community Development, the Department of Education, Pobal, the Department of Children, Equality and Disability, Integration and Youth, the HSE, the Department of Social Protection, the Dormant Accounts Fund, Tomar Trust, Bank of Ireland, Community Foundation Ireland, and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).