Young innovators tackle social issues

Racism in sport, homelessness, marriage equality and domestic violence were among the issues tackled by “young social innovators” at a “Speak Out” in Dublin yesterday.

About 700 teenagers from secondary schools across Leinster took part in the Dublin leg of the “Young Social Innovators” roadshow, which has so far been to Limerick, Cork and Castlebar and is to visit Kilkenny, Drogheda, Athlone and Derry, as well as UCD before the end of the month.

The Young Social Innovators (YSI) programme, now in its 15th year, was founded by Sr Stanislaus Kennedy to encourage teenagers, usually in transition year, to think about social issues and ways of changing them for the better.

Over the course of this year’s “Speak Out” events up to 6,500 young people will present their ideas on issues they feel strongly about, in two-minute presentations and performances.

Taking part was a group of 16-year-olds from Maryfield College, Drumcondra, whose project Get off the bandwagon, put down that naggin addressed teenage drinking.

‘Pressure’

Speaking after their presentation, they explained they chose it as it was an issue they saw badly affecting many of their peers.

“There is pressure on teenagers to drink, sometimes stupid amounts really fast,” said Moya McDermott. “We did a survey of 16-year-olds and some said they’d drink twice a month or even every weekend. They’d drink more than six to eight units in one night.”

“You’d see people making stupid decisions, saying things they wouldn’t say when they were sober,” said Alice O’Reilly.

“There’s pressure on teenagers to drink, mainly from other teenagers,” said Cara Gaynor. “They treat it as if it’s just totally normal, like it’s the thing to do.”

Other projects focused on the issue of teenagers staying safe while out on their own, by pupils at St Joseph’s College, Lucan; racism in the GAA, by St Ciaran’s Community School, Kells, Co Meath; how to encourage pupils to complete secondary school, by Rosary College, Crumlin and the difficulties faced by women athletes, by Mercy College, Coolock.

Mental health

Several schools looked at the issue of youth mental health while a number also looked at gay and lesbian rights.

Sr Stan said once young people were presented with the opportunity to think creatively about the social issues in their community, the “seed was planted”.

“They may lose that socially critical thinking a little with the pressure of exams and college, but later in life it comes back. The seed has been planted; of thinking and advocating for causes they believe in. These are the leaders and decision-makers of the future.”

Rachel Collier, chief executive of YSI, said the programme helped teenagers realise they had voices that should be heard and that could be part of a wider movement of change.