YSI’s 4Cs of Social Innovation
YSI has developed a simple model for the practice of social innovation which has been tried, tested and refined by some 35,000 thousand young people and hundreds of teachers over the past ten years. More recently, YSI has collapsed the model into its very essence – expressing simply a complex interplay of elements. We call the model the 4 c’s of social innovation.
Care, Co-operate, Change and Communicate
The model can help the learning, action and reflection on social innovation. The process itself is not linear and therefore, to be most effective in different settings, with different age groups, and mixed abilities, it needs a variety of methodologies and support. YSI has developed such methodologies and draws on other useful ones.
4 C’s Explained
Care - people themselves decide what subject/theme they are going to tackle, self direct their learning to develop a deep understanding.
Co-operate – working in teams, people use all their talents to generate thinking and develop an action plan. They work with others in the immediate and local community to improve and get support for their innovation.
Change - use the creative imagination and thinking to develop an innovative response. Re-imagine and re-create for the well being of others.
Communicate – the story told. Learn the importance of telling the story, communicating effectively to influence and get the support of others.
The whole is greater than any one of the parts
Each of the 4 c’s individually and collectively, mirror the values intrinsic to best practice and principles of social innovation. If we take away one element of the process, there is less impact on the whole. Using the model leads to a more comprehensive social innovation and a more skilled social innovator.
YSI Social Innovation Programme
The Social Innovation Programme is YSI is youth-led, team-based and action-focused. It forms part of the work of Young Social Innovators in providing opportunities for young people to engage in their local community by undertaking projects on issues which concern them.
This programme is open to any group of young people aged between 15-18 years from schools, to youth groups to youth services and development organisations, provided they have an adult mentor willing to act as their YSI Guide for the duration of the programme (typically from September to May). Working in teams of 5-25, young people identify a social issue of concern to them, explore it and come up with real actions and responses.
It suits all abilities and can fit into a range of subject curricula including SPHE, Home Economics, Religious Education, LCA, LCVP and others. Projects can be initiated on any social issue and YSI provides material resources and support to all participants of the programme. This programme also features regional and national events to which participants are invited.
YSI Centre of Social Innovators Programme
The Centres of Social Innovators is YSI’s latest programme. On completing a three year pilot, it was launched in 2011. A Centre of Social Innovators provides more and more young people opportunities to get involved in volunteering, in civic action, community service and in social innovation and supports educators to create environments which make this possible within their own school or organisation.
A Centre of Social Innovators practices social innovation, embraces human rights and is inspired by young people.
A Centre creates new opportunities for all its young people to grow, learn and practice as social innovators. They are led by a team of young people known as the YSI Advocate Team, made up primarily of YSI alumni and supported by the Principal, YSI Guides, staff and parents, the local community and YSI. Using the 4 C’s model they lead a range of activities throughout the year. Each Centre in unique, reflecting the needs and vision of those within its community.