Shortlisted Teams 2026

The finalist teams in this year's Young Social Innovators Awards have been announced! Congratulations to the shortlisted teams!

Challenge Awards - Shortlisted Teams 

Teams who are listed below are cordially invited to an online pitching session with a panel of judges. They are in the running for the YSI Challenge and overall Title Awards. Full information, along with further instructions, will be sent to all YSI Guides in the coming days!

Sustainability for Our Planet Award

Planet Over Profit

St. Conleth's Community College, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Greener and Cleaner

Killorglin Community College, Killorglin, Co. Kerry

Threads 4 A Change

Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Sprouting Sustainability

Ennis Community College (Gaelcholáiste an Chláir), Ennis, Co. Clare

Make Our World A Safer Place Award  

One Spike: Three Strikes

Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Angela in Action

Coláiste Bhríde Carnew, Carnew, Co. Wicklow

Steps Towards Making Ireland Safe

Greystones Community College, Greystones, Co. Wicklow

No Means No: A TY Awareness Campaign 

Presentation College, Warrenmount, Co. Dublin

Healthy Connections Award
 

Presented by HSE / Healthy Ireland

YSI Unify

Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton, Co. Limerick

Our Complex Adolescence

Colaiste Treasa, Canturk, Co. Cork

The Oasis Project

Killorglin Community College, Killorglin, Co. Kerry

Give Back

Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana, Co. Donegal

Grounded 

Youthreach, The Murrough, Wicklow Town, Co. Wicklow

Push Back on Poverty & Disadvantage Award

Presented by the Department of Social Protection

Shelter Team on The Green

Loreto College, 53 St. Stephen's Green, Co. Dublin

Lámh le Lámh

Coláiste Pobail Osraí, Ormonde Street, Co. Kilkenny 

Craft It Forward

St. David's Holy Faith Secondary, Greystones, Co. Wicklow

Facilities in our Local Area

Lusk Community College, Lusk, Co. Dublin

Healthy Lives & Sexual Health Award

Presented by HSE / Healthy Ireland

Code4Life

Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí, Bantry, Co. Cork

Learn and Live

Ardscoil na Trionoide, Athy, Co. Kildare

Back Breaking Bags

Avondale Community College, Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow

Ovary Acting

Tullamore College, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Message in a Bottle

Raheen College, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary

High Access, Low Info - tackling the issue of accessible drugs among young people in our area.

Lusk Community College, Lusk, Co. Dublin

Brighter Futures Award

Project Prometheus

Beara Community School, Castletownbere, Beara, Co. Cork

Brainrot: What is it really doing to the teenage brain?

St. Finian's Community College, Swords,  Co. Dublin

The Road Not Taken

St. Brendan's College, Killarney, Co. Kerry 

How to Spot What's Real and Not

Loreto Secondary School, Kilkenny, Granges Road, Co. Kilkenny

Student Art Magazine - 'The Amateur' - Cork Educate Together Secondary School, c/o Griffith College, Wellington Road, Co. Cork

Open and Equal Communities Award

Level the Pitch 

St. Louis Secondary School, Broad Road, Co. Monaghan

We're going to go F.A.R. (Fight Against Racism)

Piper's Hill College College, Naas, Co. Kildare

Tech Buddy

St. Joseph's C.B.S, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary

Cork Commemorates

Cork Educate Together Secondary School, Wellington Road, Co. Cork

St Aidan's Sensory Vibes

St. Aidan's Comprehensive School, Cootehill, Co. Cavan

Planet Protectors Award

Stop The Silent Leak (No to nano-plastic poison)

Largy College, Clones, Co. Monaghan

Mill River Rising

Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana, Co. Donegal

TreeVironmental Action

Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana, Co. Donegal

Planet Protectors

Castleisland Community College, Castleisland, Co. Kerry

Congratulations to all of our 2026 finalists, and we look forward to seeing you at the online pitching event on the 28th of April!

The winners of the Advocacy Award, Fun Raising Award and other Spotlight Awards will be announced at the Young Social Innovators Awards 2026.

Advocacy Awards - Shortlisted Teams

The following teams and their Speak Outs have been shortlisted for the Advocacy Award, which recognises creativity, clarity and passion in presenting during the Speak Out Tour. Each Speak Out featured a panel of judges who selected one team at each event to be shortlisted for this Award. Winners of the Advocacy Award will be notified on/before 17th April.

Wildlife in BCS

Ballincollig Community School, Ballincollig, Co. Cork

The Road Not Taken

St. Brendan's College, Killarney, Co. Kerry 

Artificial issues, when chatbots replace real talk

Bandon Grammar School, Bandon, Co. Cork

Stuck in the loop

Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School, Firhouse, Co. Dublin

Oldie Friends

Old Bawn Community School, Tallaght, Co. Dublin

Pawprints, Not Pooprints

Moyne College, Ballina, Co. Mayo

Level The Pitch

St. Louis Secondary School, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan

Stop The Silent Leak (No to nano-plastic poison)

Largy College, Clones, Co. Monaghan

Bridging Cultures

Coláiste Choilm, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

A.I. and Pollution

Ramsgrange Community School, New Ross, Co. Wexford

Stigma to Sustainability

Ennis Community College (Gaelcholáiste an Chláir), Ennis, Co. Clare