Hear From Our Local Leaders: Voices From the Ignite Community Programme

Across communities, young people are stepping forward with creativity, courage, and a desire to shape a better future.

The Ignite Community Programme, supported by PEACEPLUS and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), supports this by giving young people safe, supported spaces to explore identity, belonging, leadership, wellbeing, and community change. Through arts, outdoor adventure, youth-led innovation, and cross-community connection, Ignite empowers young people to discover their strengths and use their voices for good.

But the real story of Ignite lives in the people who facilitate it every day. Here’s what our local leaders have to say about the impact they see firsthand, up close, and in their own words.

Life is a journey of ups and downs and experiences that we learn from. My work with the Fire Flowers on a Friday morning remind me of this as well as the importance of resilience, support and self-awareness. This group are a compassionate and emotionally intelligent bunch of young people from Derry, 10-15yrs, who have lived experience of trauma and hardship yet they have the super-power of compassion and the ability to articulate their feelings into words, so powerful. This group’s chosen theme is Healthy Young Minds. In our previous sessions we were inspired by the song, This is Me, from The Greatest Showman, pulling out phrases such as, ‘I’m not ashamed of my scars’, ‘I’m not a stranger to the dark’, ‘Broken parts’’ and ‘March to the beat of my own drum’. We followed this by reflecting on our own broken parts, feelings and events that may have led to that, in line with the Japanese art form of Kintsukurio. Then we focussed on the golden lacquer, the glue, that sticks us firmly – more firmly than before – back together to make us stronger and also more unique. Today, the group broke plates (safely) to begin to create new pieces of art representing them. I am so proud of the words that they chose to write e.g. broken armour, and the rich discussions that we had around this along with myself and their youth worker who is skilled and compassionate and who always have the young person’s wellbeing and wellness at the centre of their minds. One Young Person told me how much he was loving our project and how good it is to do this to help him get his thoughts out of his head and into a group where he feels like he belongs. He told me that he would always remember it. Words are our superpower. They have the ability to break, support or to heal. This group are healing, finding their voice, and I have no doubt that they will go on to support others heal also.

As the Project Officer for the Ignite Community Programme I am proud to witness young people from various ethnic minority and migrant backgrounds actively participating in this. It brings inspiration to see their creativity, determination, and commitment to making positive contributions in their communities. It has indeed been a rewarding process to support the development of their confidence, leadership skills, and sense of belonging. The resilience and teamwork within them gives me immense hope for a more inclusive and connected future

We’re still buzzing from the amazing time we had at this year’s Ignite Community Halloween camp! One of the highlights was teaming up with Positive Steps Outdoors for their Healthy Hike, where we set off to explore the wild and stunning terrain north of Muckish Mountain. Our young people were absolute stars. Their energy was nonstop—they jumped right into learning navigation skills, embraced the muddy, windswept outdoors, and supported each other every step of the way. Watching them challenge themselves, encourage each other, and really connect with nature was nothing short of inspiring. But this hike was more than just a walk in the hills. It was a confidence boost, a chance to pick up skills they’ll carry with them for life, and a reminder of how powerful and joyful the natural world can be when you dive right in. And of course—a huge shout-out to Positive Steps Outdoors for motivating us, cheering us on, and making the whole day unforgettable! Here’s to more adventures, more learning, and maybe more muddy boots!

Spotlight on Peace Patrol Our group of young people have formed a working group called ‘Peace Patrol’ and their idea is called ‘Peace on Route’ - A digital solution that makes school bus journeys calmer and more positive by rewarding teamwork and good behaviour through fun, interactive challenges and leaderboard. They had observed that many of their contemporaries couldn’t get the school bus due to the loud and chaotic environment, which particularly affected young people with ASD. This meant many parents were having to take time out of their working day to drive their child to and from school, which disproportionately affected low income and single parent families. Their proposed solution was an app with games the bus users would be encouraged to use, and a leaderboard with rewards for the best buses. They entered their idea into a competition, and came second! Their dedication to the project, their genuine concern for their peers and desire to create a better environment for them has been truly inspiring!

Changing Minds, Changing Lives inside Hydebank Wood. Young Social Innovators (YSI) Ignite Community Programme Local Leader Saleh Rifaie is absolutely delighted to have started working with a mixed group of participants from the beginning of July in Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre and Prison in Belfast. The Ignite Community Programme is a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). From a simple reconnecting conversation with the Governor of Hydebank Wood in a Cafe during the launch of our Ignite Community Programme in February in Belfast I am delighted to say that we are now up and running with a mixed group of female residents and young men from the Centre and Prison in South Belfast. Following a series of exploratory meetings and an invitation to meet with the group in April for an onsite 'taster' session we are now inside Hydebank co-facilitating and delivering our social innovation programme to a brilliant group on a weekly basis. The Governor of Hydebank has remarked to me that the work we are doing is 'groundbreaking' as it's the first time segregated inmates are together onsite as well as it being transformative in terms of confidence building, learning and personal development. Members of staff have also sat in on our sessions and have commented on how well the group as a whole are engaging and interacting. The feedback so far has been wonderful and encouraging and I am certainly delighted with how the group are getting to know each other. Those participating in the 30 hour programme at Hydebank (photos shared previously) are taking part in weekly sessions that will enable them not just to own and drive innovations that will hopefully make a difference but will also develop their confidence, skills, learning and empower them to co-design innovative solutions to issues they identify. At the heart of the programme is empathy as well as empowering, equipping and inspiring people to change the world for good. In addition to the 30 hour programme is the opportunity and option to become a Guide by completing a two half day accredited and interactive training course with us. We are committed to supporting this pathway for those involved so that they can bring new skills back into the community after release. Saleh is responsible not just for programme delivery and facilitation but also for building relationships, providing meaningful experiences through interactive activities and amplifying the voices of a very different marginalised group. He has already begun to notice small changes within the group in terms of trust, honesty and openness - participants, for example, talking about their aspirations, sharing their artwork and even poetry.

The Ignite Community Programme continues to grow because of the young people who show up, the leaders who guide them, and the communities who believe in their potential.
If you’d like to support or get involved in Ignite Community whether as a participant, partner, or organisation, we’d love to hear from you on ignite@ysi.ie

Together, we can keep creating spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and empowered to shine.

The Ignite Community Programme is a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) has the statutory remit for managing EU funding programmes within Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland helping to foster peace and prosperity across the region.