Longford students who developed new fuel source as an alternative to turf win Young Social Innovators award
A high-impact social innovation project by young people from Ballymahon Vocational School was among the winners at the Young Social Innovators of the Year Awards, which took place on May 2 at Croke Park. The YSI awards celebrate excellence in youth-led social innovation.
Now in their twenty-second year, this year’s national finals event was the first live, in-person Young Social Innovators of the Year Awards since 2019.
The awards ceremony was co-presented by broadcaster Zara King and former Hometown boyband member Dayl Cronin, in front of an audience of around 600 young people from secondary schools the length and breadth of the country.
Thirty-four teams of shortlisted Senior Cycle students competed live in a range of challenges in front of three expert judging panels, and a Longford team was among the winners of a number of ‘Challenge Category’ awards.
The Climate Action and Energy Challenge Award, in partnership with EirGrid, was won by Ballymahon Vocational School.
For their project, titled ‘SloBurn’, the team developed a new fuel source as an alternative to turf in the form of briquettes made from recycled shredded paper, with the aim of protecting boglands.
CEO of YSI, Roger Warnock, said: “I would like to congratulate the winning teams, including the team from Ballymahon Vocational School. I was blown away by these young people’s ideas, bravery and creativity. Their projects are proof that change is possible and that young people have the power to make a difference.”
For more information about Young Social Innovators, see www.youngsocialinnovators.ie.