Advancing Social Innovation Education
YSI defines Social Innovation as the practice of using creativity to develop solutions which improve the well being of people and society. Such practice promotes collaborative action and learning, which creates new ways of addressing social need. It is not only concerned with delivering a new outcome but about the process of arriving at that outcome. Social Innovation is informed and characterized by values of empowerment, fairness and well being.
YSI’s definition of social innovation, above, puts an emphasis on creative thinking and action for the well being of people and society. The innovation part is the creative thinking and action; the social word is all important, as it promotes a vision for well being of people and society.
The actual practice of social innovation is informed by a strong value base and can contribute or not, to its overall impact on the well being and empowerment of others in society.
YSI’s Model of Learning & Practice of Social Innovation?
The framework YSI has developed for the practice of social innovation emerged over a number of years and has been tried, tested and used by some 35,000 young people and hundreds of educators so far. We call the framework the 4 c’s of social innovation; CARE, CO-OPERATE, CHANGE, COMMUNICATE.
YSI Promotes Youth led, Team based, Action focussed Learning
Through YSI, learning is youth led, collaborative, team based and action focused. Learning and doing are completely linked. Social Innovation itself should be an empowering process by its very nature – impacting both on the innovator and the community/those affected. The educator uses her/his pedagogical skills in facilitating learning and enables learning and reflection on the concepts, language, values of social innovation.
YSI Programmes for Social Innovation
Young Social Innovators has two major programmes which engage young people in social innovation: the Social Innovation Programme and its new Centres of Social Innovators Programme.
YSI Professional Development & Leadership
YSI provides comprehensive training, resources and support to YSI Guides (ie educators) who facilitate its programmes.
Advancing Positive Societal Good through Education
YSI believes that education for social innovation describes an essential developmental and empowering process for young people which enables learning about oneself, as an active member of a local community and wider society. It promotes the inclusion of social innovation practice as an integral part of education and development.
YSI is informed by good national and international practice and committed to advancing positive societal good through the education system. It’s emphasis on learning and practicing social innovation, social entrepreneurship and social enterprises provides skills, which are mutually beneficial to society and the economy, can prepare young people for life and work, while also enhancing their sense of fairness, justice and values embracing the common good.
