An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny delivered the key note address at the Awards Ceremony of the Annual Showcase of Young Social Innovators 2011 which took place in Citywest Hotel and Convention Centre on May 11th 2011.
Some 3,000 young social innovators came along to what was an amazing day and helped YSI celebrate its 10th birthday in style! All sorts of party hats appeared and Mary Black stole the show as she sang Happy Birthday YSI with the entire audience!
Mary Kennedy, MC, was there to introduce all the sponsors and prize winners, ministers and celebrities. Fred Cooke, comedian, had everyone out of their seats and congo-ing around the huge Convention Centre as An Taoiseach arrived to congratulate the participants and guides of YSI 2011.
Ministers Frances Fitzgerald, Joan Burton and Ciaran Cannon presented awards as well as other sponsor partners to YSI. Republic of Loose also made a spectacular appearance during the Awards Ceremony. Other bands who performed on the day included Miracle Bell and Lost in Flight.
Well done and thank you to everyone who took part and helped to make the Annual Showcase extra enjoyable for all of the YSI participants, guides, guests and visitors!
Watch Showcase video here
See Showcase photos here
Did you have a good time? Go to our FACEBOOK page here and tell us about your day!
Full list of Awards Winners:
Young Social Innovators of the Year 2011 - Silver Award:
Project Title: Missing Persons
School Name: Davis College, Mallow, Co. Cork
Presented By: Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy, Chairperson, YSI
Young Social Innovators of the Year 2011 - Bronze Award:
Project Title: Under the Influence
School Name: St. Declan’s Community College, Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford
Presented By: Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy, Chairperson, YSI
Making Our World a Better Place for Young People Challenge:
Project Title: Sow the Seed, Sit and Read
School Name: St. Paul's Secondary School, Oughterard, Co. Galway
Presented By: Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
Making Our Country More Inclusive and Poverty Free Challenge:
Project Title: Actions Speak Louder than Words
School Name: Our Lady’s College, Drogheda, Co. Louth
Presented By: Joan Burton TD, Minister for Social Protection
Making Our Community Better Challenge:
Project Title: I Need You
School Name: Presentation College, Tuam, Co. Galway
Presented By: Ciarán Cannon TD, Minister of State for Training and Skills
Making Our World One World Challenge:
Project Title: Youth Alive, Alert, Enthusiastic
School Name: Presentation College, Askea, Co. Carlow
Presented By: Austin Gormley, Director of Information and Development Education, Irish Aid
Making Our World Healthier – Physical Health Challenge:
Project Title: C the Bright Side
School Name: Coláiste Muire, Ennis, Co. Clare
Presented By: Dr. Nazih Eldin, Director, Health Promotion and Drug Services Coordinator, Dublin North East
Making Our World Healthier - Mental Health Challenge:
Project Title: I Swing that Way?
School Name: St. Columba’s Comprehensive School, Glenties, Co. Donegal
Presented By: Geoff Day, Director of the National Office for Suicide Prevention, Health Service Executive
Making Our World Fair and Just Challenge:
Project Title: Reduce the Abuse
School Name: Loreto Convent, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Presented By: Sr. Miriam Hennessy, Mother Provincial, Religious Sisters of Charity
Making Our World Safer Challenge:
Project Title: Smooth Cycling
School Name: Mercy Heights Secondary School, Skibbereen, Co. Cork
Presented By: Karina Howley, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, KPMG
Making Our World Greener Challenge:
Project Title: Let’s Get Greener
School Name: Mercy College, Coolock, Co. Dublin
Presented By: Tommy Walshe, President, National Parents Council, Post Primary
Relationships and Sexual Health Challenge:
Project Title: Because of You
School Name: St. Angela’s College, Cork City, Co. Cork
Presented By: Dr. Stephanie O’Keeffe, Acting Director, HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme
YSI Step-Up Challenge:
Project Title: Hope Square
School Name: Presentation College, Tuam, Co. Galway
Presented By: Annalisa O'Carroll, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland
YSI Post-It (Poster) Challenge:
Project Title: Homelessness
School Name: Sacred Heart Secondary School, Clonakility, Co. Cork
Presented By: Barbara Lisa, Vision Consulting
YSI Fun-Raising Challenge:
Project Title: C the Bright Side
School Name: Coláiste Muire, Ennis, Co. Clare
Presented By: Norma Smurfit, Smurfit Foundation
YSI Using Technology to Change the World for Good Challenge:
Project Title: W.O.O.F. – Welfare of Our Furry Friends
School Name: St. Anne’s Secondary School, Rosanna Rd, Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary
Presented By: Leo Norris, YSI Board Member
Extract from the speech by An Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny T.D. at the Awards Ceremony of the Annual Showcase of the Young Social Innovators Awards 2011:
Each year Young Social Innovators encourages and enables literally thousands of our young people to work together in researching and presenting projects on social issues and concerns.
The remarkable capacity of our young people for creativity and innovation on show here today is a testament to the success of Young Social Innovators.
In 2001, the initial idea of the YSI Programme was to give young people between 15 and 18 years old the opportunity to develop social awareness and the skills for activism. It has grown from just 156 students in 11 schools, to 6,000 young people participating annually in 376 schools and youth organisations. Around 35,000 young people have taken part in YSI projects to-date, demonstrating what can be achieved with a good idea, motivation and action.
As young active citizens, you are setting the standard as role models for your peers and you should be very proud of your achievements.
Much has changed in the decade since Young Social Innovators was launched. Ireland is now at a critical point. We face major challenges in rebuilding our economy while continuing to deliver the level and quality of services that our people rightly demand and expect.
Yesterday the Government launched its jobs initiative, the first of many in the lifetime of this Government. We all have a responsibility to play our part; to build a stronger, better and fairer society and economy. All of you here today have more than proven yourselves willing and able to accept and thrive on that responsibility. This is only the beginning of a great journey for you.
“Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him”, said the famous American educator Booker T Washington.
My Government is committed to continue to support social innovation projects for young people through education, community and voluntary structures.
Similarly, YSI has as its mission to “enable and encourage young people to participate in creating a fairer, more caring and equal society”. It encourages students to identify a social issue, research it, engage in an action plan to promote change and communicate that message at the ‘Speak Outs’.
Young people are empowered to develop and implement initiatives that help to improve the quality of life in their communities.
There are impressive examples of this approach across the range of projects that have been developed by YSI participants throughout the country - Setting up youth facilities in several towns across the country, for example; advocating for better health services in Donegal and Cork; campaigning against domestic violence or access for people with mobility problems; working on issues such as anti-social behaviour, suicide prevention and animal rights.
I understand that you have your own version of ‘Dragon’s Den’ and work on the new ‘Centres of Social Innovators’ around the country is continuing.
I look forward to seeing how these Centres evolve in the coming years. These Centres will foster generations of innovative and enterprising young people. This is what the country needs more than ever.
In this year’s Showcase, I’ve seen projects relating to issues such as missing persons, difficulties being encountered by people during the recession, violence against men and homophobia in the community.
Each of you are learning valuable life lessons and gaining insights into how your talents and enthusiasm can be a force for good, a force for real, positive change in the world.
Effecting meaningful, positive and lasting change is rarely easy or short-term and does not always deliver instant appreciation or results.
But it is always worthwhile as a US anthropologist called Margaret Mead put it – “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Thank you all, and enjoy the rest of your day.
Thank you.
ENDS.
