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Firing Young Peoples’ Passion to Change the World for Good

Young Social Innovators 2011/2012

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Why Young Social Innovators?

Real life and work skills Key skills development Experience

Emphasis on active participation Extends learning beyond the classroom Development of the whole person Promotion of general, technical and academic skills – self-

directed learning

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Who can take part?

Suits ALL abilities

Is ideal for Transition Year/LCA module

Also fits into a range of subject areas including:

SPHE Business Religious Education Home Economics History Geography Science Mini companies And many more…

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Key Skills

The 4Cs Framework NCCA identified 5 key skills

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Elements of a YSI Project

A. Identify IssuesB. Select a Topic

A. Build a TeamB. Plan Project

C. Collect & Analyse Information

Make a Change/Respond to Issue

Communicate, Advocate & Celebrate

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Elements of a YSI

Project

A. Identify IssuesB. Select a Topic

Care

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Identify Issues

Encourage young people to discuss and explore a wide variety of issues.

Possible methodologies include:

Media monitoring – newspaper cuttings Local/community concerns Develop existing YSI project (“Step Up”) ‘Where do you Stand?’ ‘Who wants to be a Young Social Innovator?’ ‘Ideas Wall’

For more ideas see workbook pages 9-13 or see YSI Website

“The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas”Dr. Linus Pauling

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A: 166

C: 250

B: 60

D: 152

50:50

How many members are there in Dáil

Éireann?

151413121110987654321

€1 Million€500000€250000€125000€64000€32000€16000€8000€4000€2000€1000€500€300€200€100

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Sustained Projects

A ‘Step Up’ Project:

Continuation of a previous project Should demonstrate clear development YSI teams may continue to work on project begun by

previous YSI team Projects that continue from one year to another are ‘Step Up’ Projects

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Select a TopicHaving identified an issue, select a specific topic to focus on.

Useful approaches include: Ranking Mock court/political debate activity Issue ‘champions’ Vote Mail Bag Hot Seating (exercise in empathy)

YSI Project Outline – October (title and issue)

For more ideas see workbook pgs 15-19 or YSI Website

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John (16)

Lives in medium sized town with parents, 2

older brothers & sister.

Brief biography:Believes everybody his age drinksIt’s ok to use pocket money to buy alcohol

- will get money elsewhere if necessaryGreat hurler, but gave up as too hung over on

Sunday morningsLooks up to older brothers

Paula (?)

Lives in same town with four children (10-17)

Brief biography:Under financial pressure – new supermarket

opened upWill sell alcohol to all customers – including

underage teenagersWarns her children not to drink alcoholBelieves she cannot be held responsible for

other people’s actions

Killian (32)

Lives in same town with young family

Brief biography:Works as a paramedicBelieves majority of accidents related to alcoholDisillusioned by what she sees every weekendDoes not drink

Paul (17)

Hurls on same team John used to play with.

Brief biography:Was friends with John, but not so friendly nowDoes not go out every weekendLoves playing all sports Wants to study sports psychology in collegeInterested in his fitness levels

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Elements of a YSI Project

A. Build a TeamB. Plan ProjectC. Collect & Analyse Information

Co-operate

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Build a Team

Every YSI project is team-based (5-25 per team)

Ensure that team members have clearly defined roles

Encourage identification and recognition of each others’ skills and talents

Team-building activities are very worthwhile Team Talents, Paper Bag Game, The Tallest Tower

See problems that arise as opportunities to learn about working together

For more ideas see workbook pgs 21 - 25 or YSI Website

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Plan Project

Every successful project needs careful planning and teams should

think about:

What they want to achieve

What their goals are

Timeframe/deadlines

Roles and responsibilities

Support available

Try to ensure plan is flexible in caseof unforeseen circumstances

For more ideas see workbook pgs 28-33 or see YSI Website

“The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft a-gley, [often go awry]” Robert Burns

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Collect & Analyse Information

Use a variety of collection methods and a wide range of information sources.

Background Research Relevant Organisations Talk to those affected/involved Internet and other media sources (reliable sources) Library

Action Research Questionnaires Interviews Visiting Speakers Field Trips Vox Pops

For more information see workbook pgs 35-45 or see YSI Website

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Collect & Analyse Information

When information has been collected, teams should analyse it and consider their findings:

What do people affected by the issue think?

What does this information mean to our project?

What are our underlying assumptions and values?

Have you discovered any unexpected information/findings?

For more information see workbook pgs 35-45 or see YSI Website

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Elements of a YSI Project

Change

Make a Change / Respond to Issue

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Respond to Issue

At this stage, teams decide what innovative response to take.

Strong understanding of the issue

Passion to make a change

Reflect on problem

Identify possible solutions

For more information see workbook pages 53-59 or YSI Website

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Respond to Issue

Creativity and Innovation consists of:

SEEING what everyone else has seen

THINKING what no one else has thought

DOING what no one else has dared!

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Respond to Issue

Example of innovation (video clip)

For more information see workbook pages 53-59 or YSI Website

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Respond to Issue

Useful activities for innovative thinking:

Gap analysis activity

Critical Success Factors

Visualisation

Innovation Box

Think Tank

For more information workbook pages 53-59 or YSI Website

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Respond to IssueThink Tank Teams!

The Factual Team Information, facts, figures, statistics

The Emotional Team Emotions & feelings

The Creative Team New ideas, alternatives, suggestions, possibilities

The Legal Team Who is responsible and consequences of actions

The Optimistic Team Advantages, benefits or positive responses to situation

The Authorities Big picture, roles, timeframes and resources

Learning: Using an assigned way of thinking, participants see a range of diverseangles and allow them an opportunity to narrow the focus down to a viable,

innovative response. Provides opportunity for lateral thinking.

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Elements of a YSI Project

Advocate, Communicate & Celebrate

Communicate

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Advocate & Communicate

Advocacy and awareness raising may be a major focus of some projects.

Use as many opportunities as possible to communicate message – open days, parents’ nights, website, local media, display work in local hall/community centre…..

For more ideas see workbook pgs 67-71 or see YSI Website

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Project Report Speak Out!

Evidence of Learning

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Project Report 12 typed pages (max.) or 10 minute CD/DVD Read ‘Guide to Writing a YSI Project Report’ January in-service workshop will focus on Report Use the 4Cs to structure Project Report

Care Co-operate Change Communicate

Youth led Teamwork Youth led Tell your story

Level of understanding

Working with others

Innovative response

Advocacy

Submit report 2nd March

For more info see ‘Guide to Writing a YSI Project Report’ in workbook or see YSI Website/ resources section/Step by Step/ Write report

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Advocate & Communicate

Regional Speak Outs

YSI Advocacy Platforms

Advocate on the message and the response

Various locations - March 2012

Two minutes to advocate

Use creativity and imagination

For more ideas see workbook pgs 74 -75 or see YSI Website

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Advocate & Communicate

See clip from Speak Outs 2011

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YSI Recognition of Achievement

Young People:

Record of Achievement

Reference Letter of Participation YSI Certificate

Guides:

‘Certificate of Recognition’

Attend both Sept. ’11 and Jan. ’12 workshops

Guide a team to submit Project Report & present at Speak Out

Certified Guides who continue to participate in YSI are recognised as YSI Leaders

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Celebrate LocallyCreate your own platforms and celebrate at local level. Some suggestions include:

Exhibit work in local library/ community centre

Invite other YSI teams to have mini Speak Out and present for students/staff/parents/those who supported project

Extend two minute presentation

Showcase project and presentation at Transition Year night

Use local media to publicise hard work

For more ideas see workbook pgs 74 -75 or see YSI Website

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Optional Elements

Annual Showcase Biggest celebration and showcase of social innovation

YSI Den Dragons’ Den format

Fun-raising Challenge Open to all teams who raise awareness and funds

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Celebrate!Annual Showcase (optional)

Celebration of work and achievements of both young people and Guides Selection of projects are showcased variety of themes

Entertainment/ music/open mic/ games

More information in January

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Celebrate!

See Clip from Showcase

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Optional Extras

YSI Den Dragon’s Den format Pitch ideas/plans to panel Request money, means or mentoring for development

Fun-raising Challenge Teams who apply receive an information pack Can enter a special Fun-raising Challenge at the Annual Showcase

See website for clips of YSI Den 10/11

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YSI ResourcesIn-service workshops

September: Getting started How to Guide a YSI project

January: Prepare for Speak Out/ Creative Communication Project Report Planning Workbook: Provides information, advice, worksheets and ideas Provides young people with a structure for their Project Project guide and planning tool Designed for young people New ‘Guide to writing a Project Report’

Innovate Monthly e-zine

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www.youngsocialinnovators.org

YSI’s website:

Resources (Step by step guide, activities, library) Examples of YSI projects Calendar Gallery Updates

Guides’ Zone (ysiguide/ysi11)

Book Speak Outs Pay fees Access feedback Guide forum Programme forms

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YSI Calendar

September Organisation applies

Attend ‘Getting Started’ Workshop

October Submit project outline

& fee payment

January Attend ‘Communications’

Workshop

March Submit Project Report Regional Speak Outs

May Annual ShowcaseLocal celebrations

April YSI Den

YSI Feedback on-line

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Any Questions?

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Thank You!

January 2012 ‘Communications’ Workshop:Project Report;

Speak Outs;

Creative Communications;

YSI Den;

Fun-raising Challenge;

Annual Showcase.

See you there!

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YSI (Charitable status)

Main Sponsor

The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

Sponsors

Frank Young Memorial Fund