Tag Archives: Young Social Innovators

A GROUP of Ennis students will brave the elements this Friday in a bid to highlight the plight of those who have been ‘Locked Out of Education’. Gaelcholáiste an Chláir Transition Year students have launched a campaign to raise awareness of the barriers to education many young people face because of rising rents and other costs, while also raising funds for the St Vincent de Paul. As part of this, on Thursday, December 9 from 9am to 6pm they will be taking over the running of the St Vincent de Paul shop in Ennis while on Friday night the students will be sleeping out at the school. The campaign is part of the students’ Young Social Innovators project and money raised will go towards the St Vincent de Paul’s work in supporting struggling students. Gaelcholáiste an Chláir Transition Year Co-ordinator Martina McNamara explains that the students were moved to act when they discovered that over 230,000 students attend third level …

AN Ennis school was honoured at the Young Social Innovators of the Year Ireland (YSI) Awards for its positive impact in helping to create a more equal, fair and sustainable world. Picking up the‘Fun-raising’ award, the team from Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, was recognised for its Poverty is 24/7’ project. This award recognises teams that have brought awareness and raising funds in for a cause in an innovative way. The Gaelcholáiste an Chláir students organised a fundraising event last December in which they took over the running of a local St Vincent de Paul Charity shop for 24 hours to help communicate a message that poverty is 24/7 while also raising funds for SVP. The 16 members of the 4GC class at Gaelcholáiste an Chláir completely managed the Vincent’s shop on Parnell Street for 24 hours offering a Christmas shopping experience with a difference. The students, with the support of teacher Martina McNamara, raised more than €5,500 in funds for the …

THE Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has joined forces with Young Social Innovators (YSI) to recognise innovative transition year students on getting the farm safety message to communities around the country. At the Annual YSI Showcase in Dublin, St Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla received special certificates of recognition from the authority. The award was given on the basis of how the Tulla students spoke about their projects to raise awareness of farm safety issues. Panel members from the Farm Safety Partnership organisations including: HSA, IFA, Teagasc, Farm Relief Services and the Professional Agricultural Contractors of Ireland, listened to the presentations from the students and engaged in a question and answer session with them. HSA chief executive, Martin O’Halloran said, “It’s incredible to see the passion and energy coming from the St. Joseph’s students in getting the farm safety message out there. We came here today to see young people energised about seeking to change something tragic at the heart of …

YSI Team from Coláiste Muire, Ennis has been named the “Young Social Innovators of the Year 2014”. Their project Beware of IT aims to educate young people about the increasing dangers associated with internet usage. The Ennis students’ project was one of over 400 youth-led social innovation projects undertaken this year in over 200 second level schools and youth organisations throughout Ireland. Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, co-founder, Young Social Innovators and Anne O’Leary, CEO Vodafone Ireland presented the winning team with their award at a ceremony in Dublin following the 13th Young Social Innovators Annual Showcase, which was supported by the Vodafone Ireland Foundation. The prize for the Ennis team inclued €1,500 to develop their project. Runners-up were Mount Mercy College, Model Farm Road, Co. Cork for their project on Sexual Assault Must Come To A Halt. Congratulating the award winners and all the participants in this year’s YSI Social Innovation Programme, Sr Stan said “ Social Innovation champions youth led, …

TRANSITION year students from Coláiste Muire, Ennis have been shortlisted to contend for the prestigious title of “Young Social Innovators of the Year 2014”. The new title holders will be announced at the 13th annual showcase of Young Social Innovators supported by its official partner Vodafone Ireland Foundation. The event, which will host up to a record breaking 6,000 young people, will take place at the Citywest Convention Centre on May 7 next. Coláiste Muire’s project entitled ‘Beware of I.T’, which is among 62 shortlisted for the title, looks at creating awareness about the increasing danger of Internet usage, particularly among young people. This year over 380 social action projects were completed across Ireland by 6,000 young people who participated in Social Innovation ACTION projects, organised by Young Social Innovators. Social Innovation ACTION projects give young people the skills and know-how to examine social problems and bring about the changes they wish to see in their communities and wider society. …