Welcome to all young people, educators, schools, youth reach centres and youth services who are taking part in the YSI programmes this year.

This year is very exciting as we celebrate our tenth anniversary and reflect on the participation of some 35,000 young people and over 50% of second level schools in Ireland. The commitment to education for social innovation is growing stronger every year. In these challenging times there is a more urgent need than ever to use people’s creativity to develop responses which improve the well being of people and communities. This is what social innovation is about.

President, Mary McAleese, wrote the following in a letter to YSI to mark its 10th Birthday:

For ten years, your wonderful organisation has been encouraging young people to work to improve their immediate and their wider communities. The young citizens who participate in this programme are those special people who want to make a difference, to get involved and to create a better society. They are people who use their vision, their talents and their energy to make a positive contribution to the world in which they live. The generosity of spirit and the finely tuned social conscience of these young people, who are the leaders and the shapers of the future, provide an optimistic view of the Ireland of tomorrow.

Has your second level school/ youth education centre signed up to YSI 2011/ 2012? If you have not yet signed up to the YSI programme, there's still time.

YSI in-service training is available to all participating educators signed up at the beginning of September 2011.

Dates and Locations:

• 10th September - Radisson Blu Hotel, Cork Airport
• 17th September - DCU, Dublin 9
• 24th September - Sheraton Athlone Hotel, Athlone
• 24th September - Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Letterkenny
• 24th September -University of Limerick, Castletroy

To book, download this form and return to Young Social Innovators, 3 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 or fax to us at 01 645 8031.

To ensure your school’s place on this year's programme fill in our application form in one of the following formats:

1. Using your school roll number, log in here to complete an online application.
2. Download an organisation application form here. Return this form immediately to Young Social Innovators, 3 Dawson Street, Dublin 2 or fax to us at 01 645 8031.

A series of introductory talks will give an overview of the YSI programme and its benefits to young people and educators. Come along and see if the YSI Social Innovation Programme suits you and your organisation.

Ideal for Transition Year modules and teachers of SPHE, Business Studies, Religious Education, Geography, History, English, LCVP, Youth Workers, Science and many more……

The YSI In-service workshops are designed for educators of participating organisations. Teachers and youth leaders who attend both YSI in-service workshops (September & January) and who lead a YSI project team through the social innovation programme will receive certification as a YSI Guide at the year end.

A new initiative to fire young people’s passion to change the world for good is now recruiting up to 20 second level organisations, including schools and youthreach centres. The programme will provide more young people opportunities to get involved in volunteering, civic action, community service and social innovation and will support educators to create environments which make this possible within their own organisation.

Calling all Young Social Innovators Alumni!

Are you studying now at Third Level? Are you in one of the following? Or, do you have a sister/ brother or friend who did YSI in the past and is in one of the following?

• DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY
• TRINITY COLLEGE
• NATIONAL COLLEGE OF IRELAND GALWAY

Would you consider being part of a YSI society in your college or university?

Please note Speak Out and Showcase dates and locations are currently provisional and will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Young Social Innovators now has its very own Facebook page to help keep you informed, connected and up-to-date on everything that will be happening in the coming year.

Help spread the joy of volunteering around your community for the National Day of Volunteering!

YSI encourages all its young people and guides to get involved in The National Day of Volunteering (NDV). This is one day in the year when everyone is encouraged  to give volunteering a go, to show that even if it’s only for a minute, an hour or a day, volunteering can make a big difference and be a lot of fun!