Kirsty's Powerful YSI Story Selected to Help Launch National We Act Campaign

YSI Alumni, Kirsty Real, represented Young Social Innovators at the national launch of the We Act campaign on October 27th where she shared her story about how being involved in a YSI project in 2008 changed her life.

Kirsty took part in YSI when she was undertaking a Fetac course in the Youthreach Centre in Clara, Co. Offaly. Her project ‘Behind Closed Doors’ raised awareness on domestic violence, an issue that she had personal experience of, having lived with it as a child. With the knowledge of how hidden the issue of domestic violence was and the stigma surrounding it and its victims, Kirsty used her YSI project as a platform to bring awareness and attention to the issue.

I truly believe that is how change for anything occurs; people setting out to make small changes and from that big changes can happen.

Kirsty was the first student at the Clara Youthreach to complete Fetac Level 5. She proceeded to graduate from Athlone Institute of Technology with a degree in Social Science and now continues to make change through her work at TUSLA - Child and Family Agency. Kirsty attributes her path to further education and a career she loves to her participation in YSI where she gained confidence, developed a belief in herself and her abilities, discovered the power of  her voice and her unique abiltiy to communicate as well as her personal capactiy to make a difference.

We are delighted to have Kirsty as an Ambassador for YSI and her powerful story was selected as one of those used to launch the We Act Campaign - a national campaign to raise awareness and celebrate the impact of Ireland's charities and community groups on the lives of those who avail of their services.

Representatives from charities and community groups come together with campaign coordinators 'The Wheel' to launch the We Act Campaign on 27th October 2021

The national We Act Campaign is funded by The Community Foundation for Ireland through the RTÉ Does Comic Relief Fund. Find our more at Weact.ie.

Being part of YSI taught me many lessons; it taught me that people can follow their passions to succeed in life; it taught me that sometimes what people can consider a bad experience can be changed into a positive one and from that can help others and that is powerful!