About
Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) is the focal point for higher education and research on the Belfast-Dublin corridor, serving the North Leinster, South Ulster region of Ireland.
Challenge Area Activities
Community Involvement
Take on education around promoting peacebuilding, youth development, environmental awareness and building cohesive communities.
Take on education around promoting peacebuilding, youth development, environmental awareness and building cohesive communities.
Programme Breakdown
United Youth Initiative (UYI) is a cross-border, cross-community youth engagement programme funded under the PEACEPLUS programme and delivered by a consortium of partners including Healthy Kidz, Boys & Girls Clubs NI, Peace Players and Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT).
Gaisce participants will join a local cohort of approximately 25 peers (aged 13-19) and will engage in weekly 2.5-hour sessions that combine sports, creative arts, environmental education and good relations workshops.
Each session is designed to promote personal growth, cross-cultural understanding and civic engagement.
The programme is structured into three strands, healthy body, healthy mind and healthy environment, each aligned with specific UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The ‘healthy body’ strand promotes good health (SDG 3) through sports like basketball, football and dance. These activities are used not only to improve fitness but also to build trust and teamwork among participants from different backgrounds.
The ‘healthy mind’ strand supports emotional resilience, mental health literacy and mindfulness through creative expression and structured dialogue. Art-based activities offer a relaxed space for personal reflection and exploration of identity, often with a focus on social justice and intercultural understanding (SDG 10).
Finally, the ‘healthy environment’ strand, engages participants in local environmental and climate issues. Participants explore pollution, biodiversity, and climate change in their own communities and propose solutions through collaborative storytelling and citizen science. These projects align with SDG 13 (Climate Action) SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), while also providing an evidence-based and participatory learning experience that supports youth voice and environmental stewardship.
Throughout the 13 weeks, participants engage in reflective practice, digital storytelling, and community projects, documenting their progress for Gaisce. They will be mentored by trained facilitators who guide them through the learning journey.
Programme Breakdown
Weeks 1-3: Teambuilding, Identity, Sustainability & Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Weeks 4-6:Teambuilding, Diversity, Local Environment (Rivers)
Weeks 7-9: Teambuilding, Stereotypes, Local Environment (Habitats)
Weeks 10-12:Teambuilding, Discrimination, Taking Action
Week 13:Showcase projects
Gaisce participants will join a local cohort of approximately 25 peers (aged 13-19) and will engage in weekly 2.5-hour sessions that combine sports, creative arts, environmental education and good relations workshops.
Each session is designed to promote personal growth, cross-cultural understanding and civic engagement.
The programme is structured into three strands, healthy body, healthy mind and healthy environment, each aligned with specific UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The ‘healthy body’ strand promotes good health (SDG 3) through sports like basketball, football and dance. These activities are used not only to improve fitness but also to build trust and teamwork among participants from different backgrounds.
The ‘healthy mind’ strand supports emotional resilience, mental health literacy and mindfulness through creative expression and structured dialogue. Art-based activities offer a relaxed space for personal reflection and exploration of identity, often with a focus on social justice and intercultural understanding (SDG 10).
Finally, the ‘healthy environment’ strand, engages participants in local environmental and climate issues. Participants explore pollution, biodiversity, and climate change in their own communities and propose solutions through collaborative storytelling and citizen science. These projects align with SDG 13 (Climate Action) SDG 6 (Clean Water & Sanitation) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), while also providing an evidence-based and participatory learning experience that supports youth voice and environmental stewardship.
Throughout the 13 weeks, participants engage in reflective practice, digital storytelling, and community projects, documenting their progress for Gaisce. They will be mentored by trained facilitators who guide them through the learning journey.
Programme Breakdown
Weeks 1-3: Teambuilding, Identity, Sustainability & Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Weeks 4-6:Teambuilding, Diversity, Local Environment (Rivers)
Weeks 7-9: Teambuilding, Stereotypes, Local Environment (Habitats)
Weeks 10-12:Teambuilding, Discrimination, Taking Action
Week 13:Showcase projects