Are you a Gaisce Participant or recent awardee who has lots of ideas about how to shape the Gaisce Award experience for others, and is interested in networking with other awardees and representing Gaisce? If so, then we would love to hear from you!
Gaisce – The President’s Award wants young people from all over Ireland to join our Youth Ambassador Panel for 2026. The panel will bring together a group of young people who are undertaking their Gaisce Award, or who have recently completed their Award, and are interested in being an advocate for Gaisce and accessing exclusive training and learning opportunities and network with fellow Award participants.
What will the Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel do?
Members of the Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel will have the opportunity to:
- Act as an advocate and ambassador for Gaisce among your peers and the wider youth audience.
- Engage with the Gaisce team to share your insights on the Award programme, helping shape the Gaisce experience in the future.
- Benefit from learning opportunities to support your personal development, including presentations from guest speakers at regular get-togethers.
- Attend exclusive Gaisce events.
- Network with fellow Gaisce participants.
What do you have to do?
- The first Gaisce Youth Ambassador Panel will run from January to December 2026, with an orientation meeting taking place online in December 2025. All panel members will be involved for this period.
- There will be regular meetings, both online and in-person. There will be 2-3 in-person meetings at Gaisce’s HQ in Ratra House, Phoenix Park, Dublin. Panel members must agree to attend meetings and engage on our communications channel.
- You must be a current Gaisce Award participant or a recent Awardee.
- You must be aged between 16 and 25.
- Panel members will have the opportunity to represent Gaisce locally, regionally or nationally, including media engagement, social media campaigns, award ceremonies, and events.
- Panel members are encouraged to promote their involvement with the Youth Ambassador Panel on their own social media channels.
- Panel members can opt to be featured in Gaisce promotional materials and campaigns, such as social media videos and website profiles.
- Gaisce will refund public travel expenses for any in-person meetings.
A short online orientation meeting will take place online in December.
The first in-person meeting will take place in Gaisce HQ, Ratra House, Phoenix Park on Saturday 17th January 2026. Panel members must be able to attend this meeting.
How to Apply
You can apply by completing this online form: https://forms.office.com/e/4v3cr4ktdc
If completing this application is a barrier for you, we welcome you to send a video application to comms@gaisce.ie with your contact details included.
If you are under 18 years of age, parental consent must be obtained in order to participate.
The deadline for applications is 14th November at 12pm.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a short 10-minute informal online interview on Friday, 21st November.
What did this year’s group get up to?
Over the past year, Gaisce Youth Ambassadors have represented young people involved with Gaisce, sharing their views and helping shape the programme.
They attended workshops covering leadership, climate justice, diversity, inclusion, and how to tell their stories online, with guidance from experts and inspiring speakers. Ambassadors also took part in a trip to the European Parliament in Brussels, meeting MEPs, touring the building, and discussing youth issues and climate justice.
For many, this was their first time in a Youth Ambassador role. The programme provides space to develop skills, build confidence, and grow as a leader. Ambassadors represented Gaisce at events, supported campaigns, and celebrated participants’ achievements.
Joining the panel is a chance to make a difference, share your voice, and gain experiences that will stay with you long after your year as a Youth Ambassador.
Killian Burke, Gaisce Youth Ambassador, has said:
“I’m so proud to represent Gaisce, to share my story, and to hopefully encourage others to believe in themselves and take on the challenge.”
Reflecting on his experience as a Youth Ambassador, he added:
“I was honoured to become a Gaisce Youth Ambassador, and now, I can already say it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
