Cavan change-makers make the shortlist for 2025 Young Social Innovators Awards

Next generation change-makers from Cavan were nominated for the ‘Push Back on Poverty Award’ at the recent 2025 national Young Social Innovators (YSI) Awards for their outstanding YSI project that tackles the social issues of food insecurity and homelessness.

A team from Coláiste Dún an Rí, Kingscourt, Co Cavan was shortlisted for their project ‘Grow & Give’, which aims to provide meaningful support to those who endure prolonged periods without food or shelter by raising awareness, cultivating fresh produce, collecting donations, and contributing to the renovation of a bus to serve as a mobile shelter.

Coláiste Dún an Rí were among 42 shortlisted teams representing 18 counties that competed live in eight categories at a recent pitching event.

Commenting on the high standard of this year’s entries shortlisted for the YSI Awards, CEO of YSI, Roger Warnock, said: “The cutting-edge social issues being addressed in the projects shortlisted for the 2025 YSI Awards, including Coláiste Dún an Rí, and the young people’s commitment to finding solutions demonstrates how important social innovation education is for empowering our next generation of change makers. I’d like to congratulate all the young people who have taken part on the remarkable passion, dedication, resourcefulness and creativity they have brought to their participation in our YSI programme in their school.”