I am delighted to join you today as we celebrate the projects chosen for this year’s Annual Showcase and the very talented and hard-working teams responsible for them.
This year’s Showcase is extra special as it marks the 10th anniversary of Young Social Innovators. I wish to thank Sr. Stanislaus and Rachel Collier for their kind invitation. I would like to say a particular word of thanks to the teachers and youth leaders – the “YSI Guides” – who have supported and guided the various teams all the way through to today.
The last time I was involved in a YSI event was at a Regional Speak Out in 2008 – it’s great to be back with you again, this time as Taoiseach!
What a fantastic way to showcase the talent and determination of our young people and prove that we have the skills and ingenuity to get Ireland moving again. The quality of the projects and the level of enthusiasm and engagement I see here today reinforces my confidence in the future.
Each year Young Social Innovators encourages and enables literally thousands of our young people to work together in researching and presenting projects on social issues and concerns. The remarkable capacity of our young people for creativity and innovation on show here today is a testament to the success of Young Social Innovators.
In 2001, the initial idea of the YSI Programme was to give young people between 15 and 18 years old the opportunity to develop social awareness and the skills for activism. It has grown from just 156 students in 11 schools, to 6,000 young people participating annually in 376 schools and youth organisations. Around 35,000 young people have taken part in YSI projects to-date, demonstrating what can be achieved with a good idea, motivation and action. As young active citizens, you are setting the standard as role models for your peers and you should be very proud of your achievements.
Much has changed in the decade since Young Social Innovators was launched. Ireland is now at a critical point. We face major challenges in rebuilding our economy while continuing to deliver the level and quality of services that our people rightly demand and expect.
Yesterday the Government launched its jobs initiative, the first of many in the lifetime of this Government. Yesterday’s focus was particularly on helping the young, from qualified graduates to out of work construction workers. We have made provision for an addition 20,900 places in training, education and upskilling in schemes such as a national internship programme, back to education initiatives and other specific skills training. The Government is committed to giving any young person the best opportunity available to progress their career in Ireland.
We all have a responsibility to play our part; to build a stronger, better and fairer society and economy. All of you here today have more than proven yourselves willing and able to accept and thrive on that responsibility. This is only the beginning of a great journey for you.
“Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him”, said the famous American educator Booker T Washington.
In my first speech as Taoiseach, I stated that my new Government will work as hard as the people, applying all the talent and vision and heart we have, to the betterment of our people and our country. To further this cause the new Programme for Government not only focuses on economic recovery but on social cohesion. It promotes new policies to build a more equal, cohesive and successful society.
The Government wants to introduce a universal, single-tier health service, which guarantees access to medical care based on need, not income. We are also planning new innovative ideas such as establishing a new model of financing social interventions – called Social Impact Bonds – that share audited exchequer savings with charitable and voluntary organisations. The elimination of poverty will be an objective of this Government by achieving the targets in the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion to reduce the number of people experiencing poverty.
My Government is committed to continue to support social innovation projects for young people through education, community and voluntary structures.
Similarly, YSI has as its mission to “enable and encourage young people to participate in creating a fairer, more caring and equal society”. It encourages students to identify a social issue, research it, engage in an action plan to promote change and communicate that message at the ‘Speak Outs’. Young people are empowered to develop and implement initiatives that help to improve the quality of life in their communities.
There are impressive examples of this approach across the range of projects that have been developed by YSI participants throughout the country -
Setting up youth facilities in several towns across the country, for example.
Advocating for better health services in Donegal and Cork.
Campaigning against domestic violence or access for people with mobility problems
Working on issues such as anti-social behaviour, suicide prevention and animal rights.
I understand that you have your own version of ‘Dragon’s Den’ and work on the new ‘Centres of Social Innovators’ around the country is continuing. I look forward to seeing how these centres evolve in the coming years. These Centres will foster generations of innovative and enterprising young people. This is what the country needs more than ever.
In this year’s Showcase, I’ve seen projects relating to issues such as missing persons, difficulties being encountered by people during the recession, violence against men and homophobia in the community.
Each of you are learning valuable life lessons and gaining insights into how your talents and enthusiasm can be a force for good, a force for real, positive change in the world.
Effecting meaningful, positive and lasting change is rarely easy or short-term and does not always deliver instant appreciation or results. But it is always worthwhile as a US anthropologist called Margaret Mead put it – “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
Thank you all, and enjoy the rest of your day.