About
Young Social Innovators (YSI) is a non-profit organisation that empowers young people to use their talents, insights, passion and creativity to come up with innovative solutions to social challenges. For over 24 years, their fun and engaging programmes have supported students to create team-based action-projects on issues they care about, putting their innovative ideas into action to bring about positive social change for the benefit of people, communities and the environment.
Young Social Innovators empower young people to reimagine the world into one that is more caring, equal and fair, and to come together to bring their ideas to life. Through engagement in YSI and, through our research and advocacy, young people are given a voice and agency on the issues that matter to them.
Young Social Innovators empower young people to reimagine the world into one that is more caring, equal and fair, and to come together to bring their ideas to life. Through engagement in YSI and, through our research and advocacy, young people are given a voice and agency on the issues that matter to them.
Challenge Area Activities
Community Involvement
Complete Activate or Ignite Community, focusing on local, national and global issues.
Complete Activate or Ignite Community, focusing on local, national and global issues.
Programme Breakdown
Activate
Teenagers in Transition Year, Youthreach Centres or youth organisations can participate in the programme. In this action-packed module, students form teams, dive into issues they care about and turn passion into impact. They explore the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and take creative, collaborative action on the social issue they are passionate about. Activate empowers students to create change in their schools, communities and beyond. Overview
● September 2025 to May 2026, 1–2 hours per week.
● Youth-Led. Team-Based. Action-Oriented.
● Fun, Flexible & Full of Purpose.
● 5–25 Students per Team.
Ignite Community
Ignite Community is a new flexible programme created specifically for young people in non formal education. Delivered through Youthreach, training and youth centers, this flexible and creative programme empowers participants to identify local issues that matter to them and take meaningful action.
Through inclusive and empowering activities, young people are encouraged to explore their role in the community and recognise their ability to make a difference. By using their voices and working together, they gain the confidence and skills to take meaningful action on issues they care about.
Join YSI and Gaisce for a 30-minute Zoom webinar exploring Civic and Community Engagement
Discover practical ways to support students in becoming active citizens through real-world learning and meaningful social action. During the session, we’ll highlight the key benefits for students and schools and show how both programmes align with the new Transition Year Programme Statement.
Title:Empowering Youth Through Civic and Community Engagement
Date:Wednesday, 12th November at 1pm-1.30pm
Zoom Link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87384400596
Teenagers in Transition Year, Youthreach Centres or youth organisations can participate in the programme. In this action-packed module, students form teams, dive into issues they care about and turn passion into impact. They explore the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and take creative, collaborative action on the social issue they are passionate about. Activate empowers students to create change in their schools, communities and beyond. Overview
● September 2025 to May 2026, 1–2 hours per week.
● Youth-Led. Team-Based. Action-Oriented.
● Fun, Flexible & Full of Purpose.
● 5–25 Students per Team.
Ignite Community
Ignite Community is a new flexible programme created specifically for young people in non formal education. Delivered through Youthreach, training and youth centers, this flexible and creative programme empowers participants to identify local issues that matter to them and take meaningful action.
Through inclusive and empowering activities, young people are encouraged to explore their role in the community and recognise their ability to make a difference. By using their voices and working together, they gain the confidence and skills to take meaningful action on issues they care about.
Join YSI and Gaisce for a 30-minute Zoom webinar exploring Civic and Community Engagement
Discover practical ways to support students in becoming active citizens through real-world learning and meaningful social action. During the session, we’ll highlight the key benefits for students and schools and show how both programmes align with the new Transition Year Programme Statement.
Title:Empowering Youth Through Civic and Community Engagement
Date:Wednesday, 12th November at 1pm-1.30pm
Zoom Link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87384400596