Ignite 2026: Projects by Young Changemakers Making an Impact

The first-ever Ignite Community Showcase brought together young changemakers from across Ireland and Northern Ireland to celebrate creativity, social innovation, and leadership. The day highlighted bold ideas, meaningful solutions, and projects entirely driven by young people, tackling real challenges in their communities.

The Ignite Community Programme is designed for young people engaged in non-formal education, members of youth organisations and clubs, and youth workers or volunteers seeking to develop their skills and create positive change. By providing a supportive, collaborative space, the programme empowers participants to explore ideas, build confidence, and turn what matters to them into meaningful action.

Here’s a closer look at the inspiring projects featured in 2026:

Boys Talk: Finding Strength Through Story - Arts Care

A project where young men explored their identities, voice, and mental health through creative exercises. What started as quiet reflection grew into a campaign that encourages boys to openly express feelings and support one another.

• The Challenge: Boys often struggle to talk about feelings; schools sometimes lack safe spaces.

• What They Did: Explored identity through creative exercises, developed visual storytelling campaigns, created affirmations around ‘BELIEVE,’ and worked closely with school and community partners.

• A Moment That Mattered: A powerful discussion around ‘Armour Up’, a poster created by the team exploring the idea that we all wear invisible armour to navigate the pressures of society.

• The Impact: Confidence grew, conversations opened up, and a campaign now embedded into school life continues to inspire resilience.

Fire Flowers: Rising Through Creativity and Connection - Arts Care

A group of young people used music, art, and reflective exercises to explore personal growth, mental wellbeing, and resilience. Through creative collaboration, they learned that challenges can be transformed into strengths.

• The Challenge: Young people face adversity and need safe spaces to express emotions.

• What They Did: Explored Kintsugi - the Japanese art of repairing pottery with gold, as a metaphor for growing stronger through challenges. Composed original music, performed spoken word, and mapped emotions through creative exercises.

• A Moment That Mattered: The young people performed their original song at the showcase, sharing what has hurt them and how they’ve grown, no longer defined by the past, but building dreams rooted in hope, knowing it’s never too late.

• The Impact: Trust, empathy, and resilience flourished, and the group is now preparing to advocate for mental health with local leaders.

The Hijab Artists: New Beginnings, Unseen Battles - Arts Care

Young women from Syrian and Middle Eastern backgrounds explored migration, identity, and inclusion through visual art and storytelling. Their creative work became a powerful platform to celebrate culture, build confidence, and challenge discrimination.

• The Challenge: Bullying, racism, and Islamophobia affect wellbeing and sense of belonging.

• What They Did: Collaborative artwork, Story Maps, blindfolded drawing exercises, a bilingual Team Charter, and a Reflections Showcase that reached local councils and communities.

• A Moment That Mattered: One young woman reflected, “Some people don't know about islamophobia, we get comments on why we wear Hijabs, the length of our attires, but we want them to know IT'S NOT FAIR." 

• The Impact: Pride in cultural identity, confidence, and advocacy for inclusion through art and storytelling.

Work in Progress - Donegal Youth Service (DYS)

This project connected young people with employers to build practical skills, confidence, and career pathways. Participants learned how to work together, plan projects, and take ownership of their ideas.

• The Challenge: Young people often face limited access to work experience, making it difficult to take the first step into employment. As the group identified, "you need experience to get a job, but how do you get experience without one?"

• What They Did: Through vision-building sessions and community mapping, tracing where they were born and raised, the group explored their shared journeys. They engaged in social innovation workshops and unpacked the cycle they want to break, shaping a solution rooted in real lived experience.

• A Moment That Mattered: The group articulated a powerful, shared vision, one where young people can achieve independence and financial security. It wasn’t just an idea, but something tangible they could build towards.

• The Impact: The project aims to evolve into a proposal for a National Youth Employment Scheme, creating real pathways for young people to gain experience, build skills in collaboration and leadership, and step confidently into employment and independence.

SuperStars - Horn of Africa People's Aid Northern Ireland (HAPANI)

A youth-led initiative tackling inequality, discrimination, and racism. Through storytelling and awareness campaigns, participants transformed personal experiences into meaningful action in their schools and communities.

• The challenge: Inequality and discrimination impact individuals and communities in many forms.

• What they did: Shared personal experiences, developed peer-led awareness campaigns, and engaged schools and local communities.

• A moment that mattered: By turning their stories into initiatives, participants sparked conversations and built understanding across communities.

• The impact: Empowered young people advocating for inclusion and fairness, creating tangible change through awareness and action.

Vision Pigeon - KIPPIE C.I.C.

A digital platform designed to support home-educated teens, helping them focus, stay motivated, and connect with peers. Beyond tools and resources, it became a safe space to reflect and grow.

• The challenge: Social isolation, distraction, and motivation challenges among home-educated teens.

• What they did: Aiming to build a digital platform with adaptable study tools, peer support spaces, and plans for a sister platform (Pigeon Division).

• A moment that mattered: One young person shared, “We want the world to be a safe space where we can authentically be ourselves"

• The impact: Young people gained digital design skills and project experience, while providing a safe, supportive environment for their peers.

These projects prove that young people don’t wait for the future they lead it, here and now. From art that sparks conversation, to campaigns that champion mental health, to digital tools and community initiatives, Ignite 2026 participants are turning ideas into action, challenges into growth, and voices into change.

A huge thank you to PEACEPLUS, SEUPB, and to our partners Young Social Innovators, KIPPIE C.I.C., HAPANI, Donegal Youth Service, and Arts Care, without their support, this platform for young changemakers wouldn’t be possible.

Feeling inspired? Want to see what these young leaders are creating or get involved yourself?