Waterford students showcase youth-led innovation on YSI tour
The 'Bridge the Gap' team from De La Salle College at the YSI event.
Students from a County Waterford secondary school showcased youth-led innovation at the recent Young Social Innovators (YSI), 'Speak Out' tour in Kilkenny.
At the event, 710 student teams from across Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Kildare, Laois, Clare, Carlow, Offaly, Tipperary and Westmeath took part, presenting innovative projects aimed at tackling pressing local and national issues.
The students from De La Salle College participated with two groups, 'Bridge the Gap' and 'Fast Fashion'.
The students addressed themes including body image and eating habits, the environmental impact of pollution and fast fashion, and concerns around energy drink consumption among young people.
Teams also examined online gaming, gambling awareness, and discrimination.
Community-focused projects explored gender balance in sport, the lack of town facilities for young people, and broader social inequalities.
The organisers said the presentations reflected a strong awareness of both global issues and the day-to-day realities facing young people in their own communities.
Each team delivered a two-minute presentation, sharing their research, action taken to tackle the social issue, lived experiences, and calls to action with a live audience and the YSI Speak Out panel.
"The energy and depth of discussion at the Kilkenny event highlighted the leadership potential of young people determined to make meaningful change," said the spokesperson for the organisers.
