Activate Programme

Programme Overview

Overview

A fun, flexible and scalable social innovation programme for Transition Year. Activate is team-based, action-focused and youth-led.

Who's it for?

Teenagers between 15-18 years of age in Transition Year, second-level schools, Youthreach Centres or youth organisations.

YSI recommends 5-25 students per team.

Duration 30 hours (scalable).

Dates Sept - May (1 class per week).

Cost €15 per young person

About the Programme

Working in teams, students explore issues of concern to them locally, nationally or globally. They explore the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and take creative, collaborative action on the social issue they are passionate about. Young people tackle a diverse range of issues each year including climate change, sustainable living, gender equality, racism, sexual consent, crime, community facilities, mental health and integration.

Over 5000 young people take part in Activate each year. Activate can be delivered as a 30-hour TY micro module aligned to the new Civic and Community Engagement developmental indicator, while also proving positive outcomes in Personal and Learner development.

Let's Talk About Consent Team from Bush Post Primary School, Dundalk, Co.Louth — Let's Talk About Consent Team from Bush Post Primary School, Dundalk, Co. Louth

Why do it

This exciting programme provides a unique opportunity for young people to explore and take innovative action on an issue they care about, to engage with their community in new ways and to make a difference to the world around them. Along the way, students are invited to fun and engaging events and are given opportunities to platform their voice, opinions and ideas for change. Their curiosity, creativity and problem solving talents are enhanced as they develop and implement innovative solutions to social problems facing all of us.

Students pictured at a Speak Out event where teams come together to present their issues and ideas for change.

“Amazing opportunity for young people to have a voice and be heard.”

Teacher and YSI Guide, 2025

How it's delivered

The programme is facilitated by educators (YSI Guides) who offer encouragement, support and advice to help teams reach their full potential. Supported by teacher training and world class resources, the programme builds resilience and wellbeing and promotes youth participation, youth voice, and community volunteering.

Learning is youth-led and action-based. Participation builds 21st-century skills such as critical thinking and ideation; communication and advocacy, design-thinking and planning; literacy, numeracy and computer skills; teamwork, value-based learning and knowledge around social change, sustainable living, citizenship, social justice and complex social, local and global issues.

YSI Guide with students at workshop — Educators facilitate young people on their social innovation journey, letting them take the lead and direct their project work

"YSI nurtures creativity, it ignites arguments, discussions, emotions and it places the students very much as the designers of their own work. YSI recognises that young people are an untapped force who have ideas and opinions. It encourages the student to be a full participant in their education rather than a passive observer. I have seen more needs of the 21st century learner met though the YSI brief than other curricula."

Catherine Kelly, Teacher and YSI Guide

How it Works

Educator registers to take part in the programme
Educator can attend optional YSI Guide Training
Educator accesses suite of online programme resources
Students form a team, select an issue they care about and create a social innovation project around it, bringing their ideas to life
All teams invited to present their projects as part of the YSI Speak Out Tour. (Watch the 2024 Highlights Video here)
Teams can participate in YSI Den and YSI Week (both optional)
Teams submit an online project report and receive feedback and certification
Teams showcase their project locally as part of #YSIWeek (optional), sharing their local activities using the #YSIWeek hashtag
Shortlisted teams invited to compete at a virtual pitching event
Winning teams are invited to the Young Social Innovators Awards event. (Watch the 2024 Highlights Video here)

“Clear dates, targets and milestones. Supportive of teachers and realistic to the demands of teaching.”

Teacher and YSI Guide, 2025

Integration with curricula

This programme can be facilitated as a stand-alone subject as part of the Transition Year curriculum of Leaving Cert Applied. It can also be facilitated as a module or an extension for subjects including but not limited to:

Information Technology
English
Business Studies
Politics & Society
Drama
Art

It is aligned with the Key Skills and indicators of Wellbeing and with Learning Outcomes for Transition Year and Leaving Cert Applied. Engagement in this programme offers a powerful mechanism for young people to develop skills for life and work; engage with and volunteer in their wider community; and understand the world and their capacity to become agents for change.

Watch videos about past Activate Projects:

RACE (Right Attitude Creates Equality) - Largy College, Monaghan

3 Ds (Boomerang Youth Café) - Our Lady's College, Greenhills

Global Citizens Mapping the Future - Portmarnock Community School Dublin

Greener Globe - Tullamore Community College

Thinking of offering this programme as part of Transition Year?

Download YSI's Transition Unit Department Plan.

Download our sample Transition Year Template.

Download the Activate Calendar 2024/2025.

Youthreach, The Further Education Centre, Wicklow Town, pictured with YSI CEO Roger Warnock and Minister Joe O'Brien at the YSI Awards 2024

Enhancing learner, teacher and school objectives

Participation in this programme enables students to engage purposefully in meaningful learning activities, grow as learners through respectful interactions and experiences, reflect on their progress as young social innovators, and develop a sense of ownership and responsibility for their learning.

As well as contributing to teacher CPD, the programme contributes to whole school practice and self-evaluation, including the Looking at Our School Framework.

“The project changed us. It made us more mature, and we feel like it's had an impact on the whole year group and school."

Activate Team, 2024

Programme Benefits

Full suite of ready-made online resources, materials and activities to support learning
Supported with dedicated teacher training
High energy events such as Speak Outs, YSI Awards and YSI Den
Aligned to developmental indicators of new TY Programme Statement and Senior Cycle Competencies
Students are encouraged to use science, technology, engineering, maths and the arts (STE[A]M)
Empowers youth voice and wellbeing of students
Facilitates active engagement of young people in the local community
Certification for young people on programme completion

Participation in this programme can help your school reach the level of activity required to apply for WWGS's Global Passport Award in many categories. We recommend the YSI Guide works with the teacher in charge of the Global Passport to identify areas of potential collaboration.