Young Social Innovators bring Speak Out Tour to Cork City Hall

Young people from across Cork took centre stage this month as Young Social Innovators (YSI) officially launched its Speak Out Tour 2026 at Cork City Hall, kicking off a nationwide series of events giving students a platform to present their ideas for positive change.

The annual tour, part of the YSI Activate programme, will visit Cork, Dublin, Sligo, Drogheda, and Kilkenny throughout March. At each stop, hundreds of young people take to the stage to deliver two-minute presentations to their peers, invited guests, and a dedicated Speak Out Panel drawn from the education, youth, government, NGO, business, and community sectors.

This year's projects reflect a wide range of concerns. On the environmental front, students are tackling sustainability, biodiversity loss, pollution, water resources, overfishing, and the impact of fast fashion. Health and wellbeing feature heavily, with teams addressing mental health, eating disorders, body image, toxic relationships, and raising awareness around breast cancer and endometriosis.

Social issues are equally prominent, with young people presenting on domestic violence, drink spiking, poverty, discrimination, accessibility for wheelchair users and those with autism, and elderly loneliness. Other projects examine the influence of AI, online gaming, screen time, and so-called "brainrot" culture, alongside practical initiatives such as first aid education and AED mapping.

Cork schools making their voices heard at the launch included Coláiste Treasa in Kanturk, whose team presented a project on mandatory first aid skills to combat sudden cardiac death, and Coláiste an Chroí Naofa in Carraig na bhFear, who focused on men's mental health. Mount Mercy College in Cork City presented their "Progress is Perfect!" project, while Ballincollig Community School fielded two teams, one exploring local wildlife and another tackling bias and inclusion.

Roger Warnock, CEO of Young Social Innovators, said:

"The Speak Out Tour showcases the extraordinary insight and commitment of young people across Ireland. They are not waiting for change. They are leading it. When we provide space for young people to speak and be heard, we unlock ideas and solutions that strengthen our communities and shape a better future for all."

The tour is co-hosted by Cork City Council and Dublin City Council, and is supported by a range of public and private partners including the Department of Education, the HSE, Bank of Ireland, and Community Foundation Ireland.