Combined Shape Created with Sketch.

Young Social Innovators of the Year Ireland Awards

The Young Social Innovators of the Year Ireland Awards celebrate excellence in youth-led social innovation. Held in May each year, shortlisted YSI teams are invited to present their projects to judging panels at our national celebratory awards event.

Hundreds of project teams enter the YSI Awards every year with inspiring social innovation projects spanning a diverse range of issues aligned to our innovation pillars of People, Communities and the Environment and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Shortlisted teams compete live at the YSI Awards event in a number of Challenge Categories. Winners are announced on the day including the winners of the overall Young Social Innovators of the Year Gold, Silver and Bronze Title Awards.

In 2023, the YSI Awards ceremony took place on 02 May in Croke Park, Dublin.

In 2024, the YSI Awards ceremony will take place on 09 May at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin 

YSI Award Categories

Young Social Innovators awards project teams under a number of award categories.

Award categories in 2022 include:

View 2022 Award Winners

Previous Awards Winners

Young Social Innovators of the Year 2021: Red Flags 'Break the Silence', Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Silver Award: Use Your Head, Use Your Helmet, The Abbey School, Station Road, Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary

Bronze Award: Brand New 2 U, Coláiste Bríde, New Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

Make our Country More Inclusive & Poverty Free: Voices Left on the Street, St. Leo’s College, Carlow, Co. Carlow 

Make our World a Better Place for Young People: Calling out the Catcalling, Maryfield College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9

Make our World More Sustainable: Plant Get Enough Compost, Dundalk Grammar School, Dundalk, Co. Louth

Make our World Safer: Road Safety in Carrignavar, Coláiste An Chroí Naofa, Carrignavar, Co. Cork

Make our World Fair & Just: RACE - Right Attitude Creates Equality, Largy College, Clones, Co. Monaghan

Make Our World Healthier (Physical Health): Tiktok's Ideal Body Makes Starving a Hobby!, Eureka Secondary School, Kells, Co. Meath

Make Our World Healthier (Mental Health): Peace of Minds, Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Relationships & Sexual Health: Consent got you Covered, The Donahies Community School, Streamville Road, Dublin 13

Make our Community Better: Want the Best? Come West!, Beara Community School, Castletownbere, Beara, Co. Cork

Global Citizen Award: End Direct Provision, Cork Educate Together Secondary School, Cork City

Social Media Award: The Connected Four, Killarney Community College, Killarney, Co. Kerry

YSI Fun-Raising Award: Poverty is 24/7, Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, Ennis, Co. Clare

Virgin Media Digital Innovators Award: Red Flags 'Break the Silence', Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry

School Community Impact Award: Fight for Sight, St. Mary's C.B.S., Borris Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois

Covid-19 Innovative Response Award: Tasc na Masc, Coláiste Oiriall, Muineachán, Co. Mhuineacháin

Highly Commended: The Connected Four, Killarney Community College, Killarney, Co. Kerry

Highly Commended: Same Game Same Fame, Coláiste Bríde, New Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

Highly Commended: EquALLity, Newtown school, Newtown, Co. Waterford

Young Social Innovators of the Year 2020: Step Up For Accessibility, Cashel Community School, Cashel, Co. Tipperary

Silver Award: Newtown Games, Community Gains, Newtown School, Waterford, Co. Waterford

Bronze Award: The Loud Silence Behind Closed Doors, St. Leo's College, Convent Of Mercy, Dublin Road, Carlow

Make our Country More Inclusive & Poverty Free: ASD Heroes (Autism Sport Development), St. Conleth's Community College, Newbridge, Co. Kildare

Make our World a Better Place for Young People: Our Open Space Peaceful Picnic Garden, North Presentation Secondary School, Farranree, Cork

Make our World More Sustainable: Climate Activists, Mercy College Coolock, St. Brendans Drive, Dublin 5

Make our World Safer: Safety at Sea, Ramsgrange Community School, New Ross, Co. Wexford

Make our World Fair & Just: The Loud Silence Behind Closed Doors, St. Leo's College, Convent Of Mercy, Dublin Road, Carlow

Make Our World Healthier (Physical Health): Newtown Games, Community Gains, Newtown School, Waterford, Co. Waterford

Make Our World Healthier (Mental Health): Promoting Positive Mental Wellbeing, Youthreach, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

Relationships & Sexual Health: Know the No, St. Angela's College, St. Patrick's Hill, Cork

Make our Community Better: Step Up For Accessibility, Cashel Community School, Cashel, Co. Tipperary

Global Citizen Award: Call the Fashion Police, Ursuline College, Finisklin, Sligo

Social Media Award: Keeping Up With "Reality!", Abbey Vocational School, The Glebe, Donegal Town

YSI Fun-Raising Award: Wellbeing Warriors, Coláiste Ióasef, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick

Highly Commended: The Intergenerationals, Mount Mercy College, Model Farm Road, Cork

Highly Commended: Live Without Limits, The Abbey School, Station Road, Tipperary Town

Highly Commended: Wonderful Waste, St. Joseph's Secondary School, Rochfortbridge, Co. Westmeath

Highly Commended: Tide 4 Life, Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton, Co. Limerick

Highly Commended: The Guys Who Save Lives, St. Ciaran's Community School, Kells, Co. Meath

Highly Commended: Inclusion is the Solution, Coláiste Bríde, New Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

Highly Commended: Debate the Vape, Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Highly Commended: I've Got a Gut Feeling, Mount Mercy College, Model Farm Road, Cork

Highly Commended: Not Without My Father, Castleknock Community College, Castleknock, Dublin 15

Highly Commended: Lower the Odds, Bush Post Primary School, Riverstown, Dundalk, Co. Louth

Young Social Innovators of the Year 2019: Let's talk about consent, Bush Post Primary School, Dundalk, Co. Louth

Silver Award: We Are All Human, Largy College, Clones, Co. Monaghan

Bronze Award: Virtually Connected - Socially Disconnected, Beara Community School, Beara, Co. Cork

Make our Country More Inclusive & Poverty Free: Sign2Shine, Coláiste Bríde, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

Make our World a Better Place for Young People: Young Carers, We Care!, Mulroy College, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Make our World More Sustainable: The Global Gang, Castleisland Community College, Tonbwee, Co. Kerry

Make our World Safer: Help Keep The Beat, So There's No Repeat, Méanscoil Muire gan Smal, Co. Roscommon

Make our World Fair & Just: Girls Play Sport… Why Don’t We Support?, Laurel Hill Secondary School FCJ, Limerick

Make Our World Healthier (Physical Health): Sleep Tight, C.B.S. Thurles, Co. Tipperary 

Make Our World Healthier (Mental Health): L.I.F.E. Live in Fullness Everyday, Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Co. Kerry

Relationships & Sexual Health: Rule Out Rape, Meanscoil Gharman, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford 

Make our Community Better: Give Mercy To Inchicore, Mercy Secondary School, Inchicore, Dublin 8

Global Citizen Award: We Are All Human, Largy College, Clones, Co. Monaghan

Social Media Award: Be Dementia Aware, Killarney Community College, Co. Kerry

YSI Fun-Raising Award: Raise The 'A' Game, Ard Scoil Chiarain Naofa, Clara, Co. Offaly 

Young Social Innovators of the Year 2018: Sexting, Get the message #keepitpg, Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally, Co. Limerick 

Silver Award: UV Been Warned, Our Lady of Lourdes Secondary School, Rosbercon, Co. Wexford 

Bronze Award: It's our teenage brain, we can't take all the blame!, Youthreach City of Galway VEC, 22A Liosbaun Business Park, Tuam Road, Galway 

Make our Country More Inclusive & Poverty Free: F.R.E.E. - For Refugees Entering Eire, Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Make our World a Better Place for Young People: Give a Hand to Help Them Understand, Ursuline College, Finisklin, Sligo

Make our World One World: The Cycle of Life Portmarnock Community School, Carrickhill Road, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin 

Make our World More Sustainable: Off Grid, St. Fintan's High School, Dublin Road, Sutton, Dublin 13

Make our World Safer: B.O.B. … Belts on Buses, Christian Brothers Secondary School, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork 

Make our World Fair & Just: The FairTraders, Castleisland Community College, Tonbwee, Castleisland, Co. Kerry

Make Our World Healthier (Physical Health): Our Answer After Cancer, Mulroy College, Milford, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal 

Make Our World Healthier (Mental Health): Going Mental on Wheels, Newtown School, Waterford, Co. Waterford

Relationships & Sexual Health: Healthy Relationships and How to Recognise Them, St. Joseph's Secondary School, Tulla, Co. Clare 

Make our Community Better: Better Safe, Than Sorry, Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal

Mobile for Good Award: The Icitabo Project, St. Fintan's High School, Dublin Road, Sutton, Dublin 13

Social Media Award: Proud As Punch, Breifne College, Cootehill Road, Co. Cavan

YSI Fun-Raising Award: Going Mental on Wheels, Newtown School, Waterford, Co. Waterford

Social Innovation & STEM Award: Why So Few?, Beara Community School, Castletownbere, Beara, Co. Cork

Young Social Innovators of the Year 2017: Mend a Mind - it's a Disorder not a Decision, Largy College, Clones, Co. Monaghan

Silver Award: No Limits, St. Joseph's College, Lucan, Co. Dublin 

Bronze Award: Think Safety, Farm Safely, Tullamore College, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Make our Country More Inclusive & Poverty Free: Intercultural Book Exchange, St. Aidan's Community School, Brookfield, Tallaght, Dublin 24

Make our World a Better Place for Young People: Nascadh Le Chéile, Heywood Community School, Ballinakill, Portlaois, Co. Laois

Make our World One World: Human Trafficking, Our Lady's College, Greenhills, Drogheda, Co. Louth

Make our World Greener: Ditch Your Carbon Cup Print,  C.B.S. Charleville, Baker's Road, Charleville, Co. Cork

Make our World Safer: Think Safety, Farm Safely, Tullamore College, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Make our World Fair & Just: No Limits, St. Joseph's College, Lucan, Co. Dublin 

Make Our World Healthier (Physical Health): Breaking the Borders around Eating DisordersEurkea Secondary School, Kells, Co. Meath 

Make Our World Healthier (Mental Health): Mend a Mind - it's a Disorder not a Decision Largy College, Clones, Co. Monaghan

Relationships & Sexual Health: Consent MattersSt. Angela's College, St. Patrick's Hill, Cork 

Make our Community Better: Deal with the WheelsSt. Mary's Secondary School, Convent of Mercy, Ballina, Co. Mayo

YSI Step Up Challenge: Global Citizens Mapping the FuturePortmarnock Community School, Carrickhill Road, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin 

Mobile for Good Award: LymelightBeara Community School, Castletownbere, Beara, Co. Dublin 

Social Media Award: It's the Yes Not the DressEurkea Secondary School, Kells, Co. Meath 

YSI Fun-Raising Award: Youth Action for LifeNewtown School, Wareford, Co. Waterford

Social Entrepreneurs Award: Concussion DiscussionChristian Brothers Secondary School, Mitchelstown. Co. Cork

Social Innovation & STEM Award: Man O' Warning, Beara Community School, Castletownbere, Beara, Co. Dublin 

Highly Commended: HEAR SAYOur Lady of Lourdes Secondary School, Rosbercon, New Ross, Co. Wexford

Highly Commended:  All About MariaSt. Fintan's High School, Dublin Road, Sutton, Dublin 13

Highly Commended: Wild Atlantic WasteSligo Grammar School, The Mall, Sligo

Highly Commended: No one comes knocking on my door, Holy Family School for the Deaf, Navan Road, Cabra, Dublin 7

Highly Commended: Brainstorm, Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton, Co. Limerick

Highly Commended: Mission Nutrition, Mount Mercy College, Model Farm Road, Cork

Highly Commended: Depression: A Struggle Within, Youthreach, Moynehall, Ballinagh Road, Cavan, Co. Cavan 

Highly Commended: The S Test, Ardscoil Mhuire, Corbally. Co. Limerick

Highly Commended: This Ability, Ursuline College, Finisklin, Sligo 

Highly Commended: URAC (Uniting Race and Creed), Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry

Watch the 2022 YSI Awards

The Young Social Innovators of the Year Ireland Awards 2022 took place with support from Virgin Media. Event hosts, Zara King and Day Croning, met inspirational young people, teachers and guests. An array of award recipients were announced across various categories recognising young people, teachers and schools nationwide.

Combined Shape