YSI Awards 2023 - What a Day!

Croke Park was abuzz with excitement last?week?as the finalists of Young Social Innovators 2023 gathered from all corners of Ireland to present their ideas and actions for a better world to our panels of expert judges.

If ever a strong dose of optimism and faith in the future was needed, attendees at Tuesday's Awards were not left wanting.

Six hundred teenage changemakers shared the creative ways?they are tackling social challenges and helping to address Sustainable Development Goals across a wide range of issues, including energy, consumption,?health,?equality, inclusion,?safety?and more.

Three panels of expert judges listened to pitches by all of this year's finalist teams deciding on the overall title award and challenge winners in 2023!

Thank you to everyone who helped make the first in-person YSI Awards event since 2019 so special!!

Meet the Winners! Young Social Innovators of the Year 2023

The YSI team from Holy Family School for the Deaf were crowned the Young Social Innovators of the Year 2023 for their project "Deaf Awareness - A Language for All", which saw the team develop a 10-week curriculum including video resources to teach ISL sign language - a recognised language in the Irish constiution - to young people in an effort to increase understanding,?inclusion and deaf people's confidence in the hearing world, thereby helping to create a more equal society for all.

YSI Silver Award

The?YSI Silver Award?was won by a team from Rosses Community School, Dungloe, Co Donegal, for a YSI project titled ‘Go With the Flow of your Menstrual Waves’. This project saw the YSI team highlighting the impact that hormone changes can have on how students feel at certain times of the month, including how it can affect their mood, energy levels, physical performance, self-esteem and general mental health.

YSI Bronze Award

The?YSI Bronze Award?was won by a team from Firhouse Educate Together Secondary School, Firhouse, Dublin 24, for a YSI project titled ‘Women’s Safety Week’, aimed at promoting women's safety in the community, including through the idea for a nationwide Women's Safety Week.

Read more about the FULL LIST of Winners here.

Winning Team interviewed by Virgin Media Television

We were thrilled to see the YSI Gold winning Team interviewed by Virgin Media News after winning Young Social Innovators of the Year 2023. The excellent report was broadcast on the 5:30pm and 7pm news on Tuesday 02 May.

You can watch the interview here.

This brilliant team also chatted to Muireann O' Connell on Virgin Media Television Ireland AM programme on 03 May. The team representatives, Shane and Elly explained their social innovation idea and inspiration and how they worked together to deliver it together as a team. We know this team of change-makers is already making a huge difference and will go far!

Congratulations to all the YSI Teams that took part in YSI Awards 2023!

Thanks to all of our supporters, partners and friends!