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YSI Speak Out Tour
About the Speak Out Tour
The YSI Speak Out Tour is a celebration and amplification of youth voice and innovation held throughout March every year. Each Speak Out event is attended by hundreds of teenagers who are given the opportunity to present their projects to their peers, invited guests and a YSI Panel. These high energy, inspirational events give all young people participating in Activate the opportunity to speak out and be heard on the issues that matter to them.
The 2024 Speak Out Tour saw 3,411 young people speaking out and pitching their inspirational ideas across 11 events being held in 5 locations nationwide. Each Speak Out event brought together around 20 project teams who creatively presented their ideas and actions for social change and advocating on those issues.
Watch highlights from the 2024 Speak Out in Dublin City
Watch highlights from the 2023 Speak Out Tour
The 2025 Speak Out venues are
- The Round Room at the Mansion House, Dublin
- Cork City Hall
- Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny
- The Clayton, Sligo
- Tom Leddy Theatre, Drogheda
These events provide an important platform for young people to be heard, many of whom will be presenting on stage for the first time.
Teams are given 2 minutes to creatively communicate their issue of concern, why they feel it is important, what change they would like to see and the creative actions they have taken to bring about such change in their communities. See tips on how to prepare for a Speak Out here.
This year, YSI will offer a special session for YSI Guides on preparing for your Speak Out. Further information is available here.
Hundreds of teenagers attend each event speaking out on issues as diverse as health, inclusion, equality, climate action, sustainablity, community development, justice and more.
A YSI Speak Out Panel, comprising of representatives from across education, youth, government, NGOs, community and business sectors listens to all of the project presentations, providing feedback for teams on completion of their final YSI project report.
The energy, the passion, the fun and the noise witnessed at these events is incredible. There is nothing like a YSI Speak Out to fill you with optimism and hope for the future and to make you realise that young people really can change the world.
