2023 at Young Social Innovators: Empowering Youth for Positive Change

As the curtains draw on 2023, Young Social Innovators celebrate a year that rekindled the power of live events, fostering a sense of community, collaboration, and unwavering dedication. For those involved, it was more than just a return to in-person gatherings; it was a testament to the indomitable power of the youth action and their commitment to creating a better, safer, and more inclusive world. 
 

In 2023, we saw the return of in-person events, and were honoured to host:

• 12 regional Speak Out events, which saw over 3000 young people speak out on the issues that matter to them.
• 3 YSI Den events, through which we distrubuted 12,950 euro from the Social Impact Fund, kindly supported by the Community Foundation of Ireland.
• 72 workshops, hosted by our amazing Local Leaders in every corner of Ireland.

It has been inspiring to see how young people are taking an active role in creating a better world for themselves and their communities. They are not only identifying the issues that need to be addressed but also coming up with innovative solutions to tackle them.

2023 was also a year when YSI went through a massive change in terms of brand identity, and programme offerings. 

On the visual side, with the help of Gerard Whelan from Brand Central, and an illustrator Ashwin Chacko, we have refreshed our logo and gained an impressive collection of creative assets & characters associated with YSI. These changes signify more than just a visual facelift; they mirror the innovation and depth that defines YSI's commitment to empowering the youth and fostering positive change.

In recent news, in November we have introduced a new, pioneering addition: "Social Innovation: A Solution to the Big Issues" - a new self-paced online course.

This course is designed to equip participants with vital tools and knowledge to address pressing societal challenges. Covering crucial topics from understanding social innovation to crafting sustainable solutions, this unveiling marks a significant step in facilitating transformative learning experiences. This exciting new online course is free, self-paced and a certificate is given on completion.

In 2023, the YSI Speak Out Tour experience reached over 3,000 young individuals across 11 events held in 7 locations nationwide. Approximately 20 project teams at each event passionately presented their innovative ideas and actions for societal improvement, advocating on their chosen social issues.

The presence of 38 panelists, spanning government, education, corporate, and NGO sectors, enriched the sessions by offering insightful feedback to the participating teams. Notably, YSI's esteemed partners actively supported these events, amplifying their impact, and the voice of young social innovators in Ireland!

In 2023, sixteen Irish schools earned YSI Schools of Excellence Awards, showcasing their commitment to social innovation education. These schools, recognized with YSI Plaques, embody YSI's vision of empowering young people to catalyze positive change. Since 2014, these awards have honored schools that empower youth, support social innovation learning, foster confidence in students, value staff contributions, and promote an inclusive, innovative culture.

Coming in 2024! We have a new, exciting offering designed to empower young people with the necessary tools, resources, and inspiration to make positive changes within their communities. 

Watch this space.