Galway teenagers have been described as a “powerful force for good” who are keen to create a “fair, just and inclusive” society.
Urging the new government to listen to their views Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, the co-founder and chairperson of Young Social Innovators, Ireland’s largest civic action programme for young people, said they demonstrated a positive future for Ireland.
She was speaking at the programme’s fourth Speak Out, an annual series of events, which was held at the Black Box Theatre recently.
More than 600 teenagers from schools and educational centres in Connacht and the mid-west including Galway, Clare, Limerick, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath met there to share their ideas and plans for tackling some of society’s most pressing social issues.
Students from the Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill, St Brigid’s College, Tuam, Presentation College, Tuam, Ard Scoil Mhuire, Ballinasloe and St Paul’s Oughterard were among the teenagers who attended the event.
Throughout March, some 5,500 young people aged 15 to18 years are invited to similar Speak Out events to present details of the 350 social action projects they are undertaking to identify and implement solutions to issues which concern them.
Sixty projects will be shortlisted for the 10th Young Social Innovators Annual Showcase which takes place in Dublin in May at which the Young Social Innovators of the Year 2011 will be announced. The winning project team will receive a grant towards the further development of their project.
Speaking at the Galway Speak Out event, Sr Stanislaus Kennedy congratulated the young people present on their fresh approaches to social issues, such as mental health, teenage pregnancy, social inclusion and youth facilities. She said they were a powerful force for good.
“I would like to ask the new government to pay attention to what young people have to say about Ireland and to take heed of their innovative thinking and actions. Young people demonstrate a positive future for Ireland here today.
“I see young people who are deeply interested and engaged and who want to create a fair, just and inclusive society. For many of you, Young Social Innovators has provided your first experience of social action. Through your projects you’ve seen the changes you can effect and the influence you can exert. I would urge you to build on this experience and continue to be a force for good.”
Rachel Collier, the co-founder and chief executive of Young Social Innovators, said that despite the challenging economic environment, this programme was continuing to expand.
“Ireland faces difficult economic and social challenges. It is now more critical than ever that programmes such as the Young Social Innovators become increasingly recognised at local and national level for their importance in rebuilding social capital and social cohesion in Ireland. Young people, equipped with valuable life skills and social awareness, through YSI are undertaking social action projects in every county in Ireland.
“Since it began 10 years ago some 35,000 teenagers have undertaken community based projects. They have established youth cafés, social inclusion and educational initiatives for the elderly and disabled, and have campaigned and implemented award-winning programmes on issues such as mental health, road safety, bullying and alcohol abuse.”
She stated the Speak Outs were a valuable opportunity for communities to learn about and support social action initiatives taking place in their areas. She urged people to come along to their local events and support young people.
Commenting on the report on Ireland from the International Civic and Citizenship Study (ICCS ) which was carried out in 38 countries, Ms Collier said that it was “good news” that Irish students had performed well above the international average, ranking seventh overall, on a test of civic knowledge.
“It is worrying though that, in terms of civic participation, Irish students performed significantly and substantively lower than the international average.
“If Ireland is to build social capital and cohesion then we need to ensure that civic participation in programmes such as YSI is an integral part of our youth development and education”, she said.
Young Social Innovators was co-founded by Sr Stanislaus Kennedy and Rachel Collier to develop social awareness and activism amongst young people.
The Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs is its main sponsor. Additional support is received from the Department of Education and Skills, the HSE, the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Irish Aid, and KPMG. Other partners include the Irish Sisters of Charity, Crisis Pregnancy Agency and Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.
YSI is developing ways to extend its programme to 13 to 18 year-olds in Ireland while its pilot programme to develop a prototype for local centres of social innovators will end this year.
