Social Innovation Den 2021
€10,000 social innovation fund granted through YSI Den 2021
Taking place over three days from the 9th-11th of February, the YSI Den saw 25 teams from across Ireland pitch virtually to our Den Panel members in our Dublin, Regional and Cork Dens. Projects pitched included issues around mental health, body positivity, road safety, equality, mask pollution and the environment. Throughout the week, YSI was able to supply teams with some €10,000 in funding, as well as means and mentoring to support their projects.
Dublin Den Results:
- ‘Brand New 2 U’- Coláiste Bríde, Clondalkin, Dublin 22: €600 in funding to support the students’ sustainable fashion initiative ‘Brand New 2 U.’ Keen to highlight the negative impact of ‘fast fashion,’ the team is creating a poster campaign to encourage (particularly) young people to shop more sustainably in local charity and second-hand stores.
- ‘Same Game Same Fame’ - Coláiste Bride, Clondalkin, Dublin 22: €300 in funding and mentorship to support the teenagers’ campaign focusing on the underrepresentation of women in sport. As well as an in-school awareness week to encourage more girls to get involved in sport, the team are lobbying for an annual National Sports Day to raise awareness about sport in Ireland while equally promoting and celebrating male and female athletes.
- ‘Sensory Garden and Outdoor Classroom’ – Old Bawn Community School, Tallaght, Dublin 24: €400 in funding to help create a sensory garden and outdoor classroom in response to Covid-19. They hope that the garden will provide a bright space for students if they are stressed or struggling particularly in the current environment as well as promoting biodiversity in their school grounds.
- ‘Gender Inequality in Sport’ - Mercy College, Coolock: €300 in funding and mentorship to support their project on gender inequality in sport. As part of their campaign, the team has designed a sliotar clip for a hurley which, besides helping to make the transport of sports equipment easier, it will also promote their message of gender equality through branded campaign messaging on the clip strap.
- ‘Redefining Perfect’ - St. Joseph’s College, Lucan: €400 in funding towards their project on body positivity. The team hope to produce an education resource for use in SPHE classes promoting body positivity to improve teen wellbeing.
- ‘Cope with Stanhope’ - Stanhope Secondary School, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7: €500 in funding to assist them with their positive wellbeing and mental health awareness project. They will use the funds to develop a Wellness Journal to share with students in their school as well as the creation of online activities and classes to improve student wellbeing.
- ‘Yard Upgrade’ - Our Lady of Mercy Secondary School, Drimnagh, Dublin 12: €350 in funding towards their yard upgrade project to enhance student wellbeing and community spirit. The team will use the funds to purchase equipment and supplies to make the school yard a more welcoming and inclusive place for incoming students and a mindful space for the whole school community to enjoy.
Cork Den Results:
- ‘Help Your Health’ - Carrigtwohill Community College, Carrigtwohill: €400 in funding towards their project on supporting the mental and physical health of students. The team, worried about their fellow students’ wellbeing in the current environment, are creating a ‘de-stressing’ pack and booklet for all exam year students.
- 'Road Safety in Carrignavar’ - Coláiste an Chroí Naofa, Carrignavar: €300 and mentorship advice towards their road safety project to help address safety concerns about the entrance to their school as well as securing a new pedestrian crossing for an area of particular concern in their local community.
- ‘Outdoor Covid Friendly Classroom’ - Coláiste an Chroí Naofa, Carrignavar: €600 towards their project on creating a Covid-friendly outdoor classroom. The funding will be used to purchase supplies for the classroom space such as whiteboards and seating.
- ‘Improve Public Transport’ - Cork Educate Together Secondary School, Cork City: €200 in funding and mentorship towards their project to improve cycling facilities in Cork City and to raise awareness about safe cycling.
- ‘End Direct Provision’ - Cork Educate Together Secondary School, Cork City: €500 and mentorship advice in relation towards a poster and billboard campaign to create awareness of and improve conditions for those living in direct provision.
- 'The Future of Fashion’ - Loreto Secondary School, Fermoy: €200 in funding and mentorship towards their project on raising awareness of the environmental damage caused by fast fashion. The funding will go towards establishing a swap shop in their school to promote a culture of sustainable fashion among students.
- ‘The Power of Okay’ - Loreto Secondary School, Fermoy: €320 in funding towards their project to promote positive mental health in their school. Keen to promote the benefits of exercise for mental wellbeing, the team hope to host and promote virtual exercise classes for students in their school.
- ‘Garden of Weeden’ - Beara Community School, Castletownbere: €500 in funding and mentorship towards their project to create green spaces and promote biodiversity around their school. As well as contributing to environmental sustainability in the local area the outdoor spaces will provide an inviting and uplifting place for their school community to enjoy.
- ‘Bettering Beours’ - St. Mary’s Secondary School, Charleville: €400 in funding and mentorship towards their project on educating teenage girls on a wide range of issues relating to gender equality through workshops and a dedicated communications campaign.
Regional Den Results:
- 'Plan't Get Enough of Compost' - Dundalk Grammar School, Dundalk: €350 in funding to advance their project aimed at reducing food waste in their school through the introduction of a new composting system and recyling bins for the school
- 'Tasc na Masc' - Coláiste Oirial, Monaghan: secured €550 in funding as well as mentorship advice to advance their project aimed at combatting mask pollution and encouraging the responsible disposal of face masks. They hope to increase their reach through marketing campaigns as well as providing a bin especially for masks.
- ‘Unity in the Community' - Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town: €400 in funding to support the team’s ambitions to combat loneliness and isolation among residents of a local nursing home as a result of Covid-19. Interactive zoom events and a pen pal initiative are just some of the ways in which these teenagers hope to establish connections and create a sense of unity.
- ‘Peace of Minds’ – Loreto Secondary School, Letterkenny: €300 in funding to support the design and print of ‘Peace of Minds’ calendars designed by the teenagers to promote mental and physical wellbeing through suggested monthly activities encouraging people to get active. Through this and other school and community-based activities, the team are hoping to spread joy and positive wellbeing during these difficult times.
- ‘Power of Periods’ – Rosses Community School, Dungloe: €400 in funding and mentorship advice to support the team’s campaign to shatter the stigma around periods and provide free access to sanitary products for students in their school. Having designed a prototype dispenser, the team hopes to see it available in school bathrooms providing products for those who cannot afford them or who feel uncomfortable asking for assistance from others.
- 'EquALLity' - Newtown School, Waterford: €550 in funding to develop their project aimed at educating primary school children on issues relating to inequality and discrimination. The Waterford teens plans to create a children’s book and accompanying diverse doll to help communicate their message of diversity and inclusion to a primary school audience.
- 'Fight for Sight' - St. Mary’s CBS, Portlaoise: €270 in funding to advance their project aimed at making their school more inclusive for visually impaired students. Witnessing the support needed by their visually impaired classmates to safely navigate the school building, the YSI team ‘Fight For Sight’ want to introduce braille signage, maps and systems throughout the school to enable a greater degree of independence for these students
- 'The Connected Four' - Killarney Community College, Killarney: €500 in funding and mentoring towards their project on the false perceptions of Autism, A.D.H.D./A.D.D., Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. They hope to create a children's book to help people with these conditions realise that their conditions do not define who they are or limit what they can do.
- 'TikTok's Ideal Body Makes Starving a Hobby' - Eureka Secondary School, Kells: €250 in funding and mentoring towards their project on the dangers of particular types of videos and comments on young people's mental health and body image. They hope to create awarness and get their message to a wider audience using posters, presentations and guerilla marketing.
Thank you to our Den panel members!
Dublin Den:
- Paul Farrell - Managing Director, Virgin Media Television
- Mary Mac Sweeney - Deputy Head of Enterprise & Economic Development, Dublin City Council
- Barry Peak - Education & Training Officer, Young Social Innovators
I am privileged to have participated in the Young Social Innovators’ Den and to hear from articulate and motivated students about great projects focused on making real change for good with the support of some great teachers. Consistent themes of kindness, inclusion, wellness, sustainability and equality. It was truly inspirational and uplifting.
Cork Den:
- Katherine Corkery - Environmental Awareness Office, Cork County Council
- Chris Dorgan - Corporate & External Affairs, Cork City Council
- Karen Fitzgerald - Corporate Affairs & International Relations, Cork City Council
- Campbell Scott - Vice President of Strategy, Virgin Media Ireland
- Jacqui Walsh - Social Impact Analyst, Rethink Ireland
Taking part in YSI was such an empowering experience, it equipped me with the skills to change the world for good. Almost 10 years on, I am a panellist on The Den, which gives me the opportunity to empower the next generation of change makers.
Regional Den:
- Tim Butler - Head of Procurement & Supply Chain, Virgin Media Ireland
- Paul Kelly - Marketing Director, Unilever Ireland
- Mary Roche - Senior Coordinator, Services for Sexual Violence, TUSLA
Blown away by the passion, creativity and compassion displayed by the young students in presenting their proposals to make a real positive impact to our communities, environment & society.