Young Social Innovators of the Year 2009 – Award Winners
Award Project Title School Name
St Peter's College Dunboyne, Co. Meath Guide Name: Aideen Flood
About the Project
Highlighting poverty, living in poverty for a week and producing a book on poverty was the focus of this project. As it was a collaborative project, the students communicated through Skype, text messages, e-mails, a website and Bebo page was set up. In response to the issue, the students produced a book about global promises and Millennium Development Goal 1 and conducted a Poverty Week, where students and teachers lived in poverty. The Department of Education and Self Help Africa have offered to make the Poverty Week activity into a resource and hopefully implemented into curriculums across all schools. This project was chosen because the students involved undertook a number of imaginative activities including a poverty week, which provided experiential learning. The project involved 2 schools which was a particularly innovative collaboration. Though separated by distance, the working relationship was close and productive. Hairless Whisper is an investigation into the emotional effects of cancer on suffering patients. The project highlights the lack of Paxman Scalp Cooling machines in the country and discusses the importance of these machines for cancer patients. The team links were made with Minister John Curran in the Dáil with the HSE budget submission. RTÉ and TV3 were contacted and ‘Ireland AM’ expressed interest in featuring the project. In doing this project, the local papers featured articles in the ‘Clondalkin Echo’ and ‘The Evening Herald’. The class propose to raise a further €5,000 to reach their overall target of €15,000 to buy a machine for James’ Hospital. The team demonstrated passion, creatively, empathy, maturity and a level of understanding which could be expected of experts with long term experience. This project addresses an urgent social problem that has led to the death of many young people on our roads. This project highlights the danger of racing in the ‘boy racing’ culture. A considerable Road Safety demonstration and awareness action was taken in the Town Square in Tralee. The students were invited by local T.D. Tommy Sheahan to present their findings to Dáil Éireann. The students who undertook this project addressed a very important issue in their area and had the added dimension of raising awareness of the link between ‘for sale’ signs on modified cars and invitations to race. Students are working campaigning to have by-laws changed to address this issue.
Overall Winners
Young Social Innovators of the Year 2009 – overall winner
The Butterfly Effect
& Coláiste Bhride Carnew, Co. Wicklow Guide Name: Eleanor Lee
Young Social Innovators of the Year 2009 - 2nd place
Moyle Park College, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Hairless Whisper
Guide Name: Sarah Gray
Young Social Innovators of the Year 2009 - 3rd place
C.B.S. Secondary School, The Green, Tralee, Co. Kerry
For Sale, For Race
Guide Name: Helen Hayes
Award
Project Title
School Name
Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry Guide Name: Veronica Hunt Davis College, Summerhill, Mallow, Co. Cork Guide Name: Colette O’Callaghan Mercy Secondary School, Mounthawk, Tralee, Co. Kerry
About the Project
The focus of this project is the wearing of seatbelts. In order to gain to gather information within the school, the team interviewed first year students, family, friends and anyone who had been affected by the issue. The project research work was very strong. Their campaign was waged at a wide target group and its message was clearly and powerfully made. They had a highly successful media profile and were determined to spread their message widely. This project focuses on the digital divide between the young and the elderly and aims in particular at improving the I.C.T. skills of the elderly. The group of young people showed great adaptability - they challenged the stereotype of young people as receivers of knowledge. Their flexibility was innovative and responsive to the target group. The focus of this project is to raise awareness about the dangers of animal cruelty, in particular fur farming. This team were appalled at the cruelty inflicted on Irish fur farms. They set out to achieve a ban on fur farming and to get people to commit to never wearing animal fur. They wrote to the Minister for Agriculture and were invited to meet an official of the Department. They hope to influence forth coming legislation on animal health and welfare. Reading articles that only seemed to present negative stories about teenagers inspired these students to raise awareness about the positive contribution young people can make in society. This project raises the awareness of the positive contribution young people can make in society. This was achieved through excellent team work in producing a CD, publishing a poem, establishing ‘Keen Teen’ awards and getting all classes and communities involved. Volunteering is a key ingredient of the contribution made by the teams in the community. The focus of this project is to raise awareness about future employment opportunities within the local community as a result of the downturn in the economy. The team impressed the judges with a solid analysis of the current economic climate and has identified a gap in the market for those seeking part time work in the community. There was excellent communication of the service offered and the team worked well based on individual strengths. This service has the potential to be of sustainable benefit to individuals and to the wider community. This project aims to highlight the issue of child soldiers as the worst forms of child labour and denies these children their basic human rights. Research was carried out through related websites such as UNICEF and Human Rights Watch, newspaper articles and the DVD Blood Diamond. The students set up a Bebo page to highlight the media coverage on child
Challenge Winners
Making our World Safer C.S.I. - Car Safety Investigators
Making our World More Inclusive
Bridging the Digital Divide - Senior I.T.izens
Making our World Fair and Just
Fur or Against?
Guide Name: Veronica Hunt
Making our World a Better Place for Young People
Keen Teens
Presentation College, Currylea, Tuam, Co. Galway Guide Name: Leona Gormley Moyne Community School, Moyne, Co. Longford
Making our Community Better
Help Is At Hand
Guide Name: Padraig Doherty Presentation Secondary School, Thurles, Co. Tipperary Guide Name:
Making our World One World
Child Soldiers
Award
Project Title
School Name
Edel Harding
About the Project
soldiers. A survey was conducted and distributed to all year groups on the issue of child soldiers. Links were made with Jo Becker, a human rights watch employee and North Tipperary County Council. The students organised a premature Red Hand Day to collect names to contribute to the million signatures to be presented to UN politicians. The project highlighted the importance of preserving bio-diversity in their school and community in an innovative and creative way. The students designed a bio-diversity plan and got a specially designated bio-diversity area in their school. The team hope they can get other schools to designate a bio-diversity area. They are also in the process of designing a website and launching a DVD. The judges were impressed with the amount of knowledge the team gathered and shared on the topic. The aim of this project is to raise awareness of testicular cancer. In the process of the research the group spoke to previous YSI participants and to a member of the HSE. Based on this research a survey was organised in the school. After assessing the results of this survey the group launched a very comprehensive awareness campaign involving leaflets, a Bebo page and lesson plans that are designed for use in peer education on the topic. The team showed innovation by putting lesson plans in place and they secured a place in next year’s school diary, as well as effectively targeting male dominated organisations nationwide. This project focuses on the harrowing affects suicide has on the family, extended family, friends and the wider community. The team went about this by conducting a memorable drama on the aftermath of a suicide and the affects its has. A speaker was invited in from the Samaritans to explain the facilities and support services available to young people. The group made links with the Bethany Bereavement Support Group, Rainbows in Cavan, An Garda Síochána, Console and the HSE. In response to the issue, the students contacted a local printing company and designed a pocket sized card specifically for Suicide and Bereavement Services. They are proposing to send them to all post-primary schools, hospitals and doctor surgeries in the country. The project aims to examine the specific issue of child poverty in Ireland, to heighten awareness and to examine some of the responses to child poverty in Ireland. A survey of TY and 5th year students was distributed to research child poverty, a vox box was conducted and the internet was examined regarding the topic. The team identified a core message that 1 in 9 children in Ireland are affected by poverty and produced a developed a comprehensive presentation on child poverty and are disseminating it locally.
Making our World Greener
Variety is the Spice of Life
Blackwater Community School, Lismore, Co. Waterford Guide Name: Bridget Taffe
Making our World Healthier Physical Health Award
Good Counsel College, New Ross, Co. Wexford
Saving Private Parts
Guide Name: Aoife Kinsella
Making our World Healthier - Mental Health Award
The Legacy Suicide Leaves in its Wake for Families and Communities
Breifne College, Cootehill Road, Cavan, Co. Cavan Guide Name: Aileen Connelly
Making Our Country Poverty Free
Child Poverty - in Ireland?
Coláiste Cholmcille, College Street, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal Guide Name: Abina Barrett
Award
Project Title
School Name
About the Project
The overwhelming responses to last years project inspired students to continue on the ‘Stomp-Out Bullying’ initiative started last year. The team built on last years work and carried the project to its next logical stage. All team members are now 5th years - so the team carried forward from last year on their initiative. Feedback from students who had watched the 2008 DVD was a great source of information and resulted in the production of an updated DVD. Students continued to work closely with school management on measures to discourage bullying. Highlighting the need for farm safety is the aim of this project. As a form of research the team traveled to the ploughing championships and gathered vital information from the IFA, HAS and Teagasc. Surveys were carried out and distributed to 300 students in the school. Partnerships were made with Joe Cronin, West Cork Partnership and Dr. Colin Gleeson and the Clonakilty Agriculture College. The students produced an activity book aimed at increasing awareness of farm safety amongst children. ‘Sofi’, the friendly farmer, teaches through puzzles and colourful activities. This activity book would be appreciated by all who live on a farm. The objective of the project was development education, particularly focusing on Uganda. The group undertook FIDES - a permanent link between their school and an aid project in Africa. The students conducted video interviews with Holy Ghost missionary priests for later presentations and resources about development. In response to their projects, the students organised a campaign about the issue through notice boards, leaflets, Bebo page and the school newsletter. Links were made with Goal and Aidlink and a PowerPoint presentation on the project was put up on the school website. The students hope to participate in an Immersion programme in Uganda and to continue to heighten the awareness of FIDES and development education. This poster aimed to raise awareness of the importance of protection against STIs and was relevant to its target audience. It was clear in its message and proved powerful and effective.
Additional Awards
Coláiste Mhuire, Harmony Row, Ennis, Co. Clare Guide Name: Niamh O’Regan Beara Community School, Castletownbere, Beara, Co. Cork Guide Name: Paula Duane
YSI Step Up Award
Stomp Out Bullying - Take Two
Using Media to Change the World for Good
S.O.F.I. - Safety on Farm Initiative
Stand Out Award (Best stand)
F.I.D.E.S.: Faith, Inspiring Development, Education and Sustainabilty
Blackrock College, Blackrock, Co. Dublin Guide Name: Cliona Buckley
Post it (Best poster)
Carry a Mate Before It’s Too Late
Colaiste Phobail Osrai, Kilkenny Guide Name: Clare Kilkenny