DEATH BY sun bed, animal cruelty and blood diamonds were just some of the issues raised by teenagers at yesterday’s launch of the 2011 Young Social Innovators “Speak Out” series.
Hundreds of students from dozens of schools took to the stage at the Helix in Dublin City University to present their ideas for tackling social problems. There was singing, shouting, dancing, acting and everything in between from the various groups who tried to impress the judges.
Similar events will be held around the State through March before 60 projects are shortlisted for the finals in Dublin in May.
Proceedings were started yesterday by Fair City actor Una Kavanagh, who introduced all of the acts as well as special guests – Lord Mayor of Dublin Gerry Breen and comedian Fred Cooke.
Featuring prominently throughout the day was Sacred Heart Secondary School from Tullamore in Co Offaly who, along with four Speak Out acts, also provided interval entertainment.
For one of its acts, the students created a mock news programme, starring a presenter determined to speak about suicide. Transition-year student Adriana O’Brien, who played the news anchor, said: “When we were deciding what to do, somebody said it was suicide awareness week and we realised none of us had even known it was . . . We wanted to get people talking about it more.”