Innovation Fund

Dublin Youth Theatre: All the World’s a Stage

“At Dublin Youth Theatre (DYT), we believe in the power of theatre to help young people develop important life skills and grow into confident, empathetic, and responsible global citizens. Established in 1977, we work with young people from Dublin City and surrounding areas, providing a space where they can socialize, collaborate, and innovate. Our members have a say in how the organization is run, with opportunities to sit on the board and committees and gain valuable life experience. 

A global focus for youth theatre

We’re always looking for new and exciting ways to help our young people grow and learn, which is why we were thrilled to introduce the Global Youth Work (GYW) program into our practice through the Youth2030 Innovation Fund and training with the team. Our Managing Director, Sarah Bragg Bolger, completed the NUI Certificate in Global Youth Work and Development Education in 2022 and was inspired to bring a more global focus to our work. 

Complex global topics through drama

With the help of the Youth2030 team, we were able to incorporate a global focus across our youth work, initially delivering three workshops to 15 of our members aged 15 to 22 years old. During these workshops, we introduced the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and used the PLiNGs approach to help young people see themselves in the context of globalisation. We also explored complex global topics through drama, making the learning experience more engaging and memorable. 

A critical aspect of a GYW approach is to encourage young people to become change-makers, and our workshops aimed to do just that. After the program, our members began considering concrete actions they could take to fight oppression, and they even did independent research to explore two chosen SDGs further.  They focused on SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 16 Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions, these young creatives represent what it means to be global citizens.   

SDGs 3, Good Health and Well-Being and 10, Reduced Inequalities. 

Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, we still managed to gather feedback and saw positive shifts in participants’ values and perceptions of global topics. Introducing GYW into our work didn’t drastically change what we’ve always done, but instead, it added a structured context and a clear call to action. Our goal is to serve our young people and community in the best way possible, and this program helps us do just that by working towards SDGs 3, Good Health and Well-Being and 10, Reduced Inequalities. 

Dublin Youth Theatre, the world truly is a stage

We’re so proud of our young members and can’t wait to see where this journey takes them. We’re also exploring options with a playwright and the European Youth Engagement Festival to expand our workshops to cover all 17 SDGs and further develop critical thinking and advocacy skills through intercultural cooperation. At Dublin Youth Theatre, the world truly is a stage, and we’re excited to see what our young members will achieve.” 

Involve Youth Meath: Exploring the Effect of Educational Inequality on the Traveller Community

“As a Traveller specific organisation, Involve Youth Meath, is very committed to creating opportunities for our young people to fully participate and to take their place at the table. We run 2 youth projects in the Meath area, one in Trim and one in Navan, and activities range from homework clubs to arts and crafts, to a diversity programme, STEAM and much more. Our No Shame-Traveller Youth Mental Health Campaign and the award winning, No Shame Game are examples of the ways in which we advocate for and collaborate with our young people. With seven staff members, Involve Meath is part of Involve – the National Association of Traveller Centres, representing youth work projects and centres of education and training nationally – Involve Youth Project Meath | Trim | Facebook 

Educational Inequality

Our youth work team are at the heart of our work, and they identified an issue with educational inequality, faced by our young people, and impacting across the community. One of our senior youth workers, Brian Doyle, completed the NUI Certificate in Global Youth Work and Development Education in 2022 and it helped him to see educational inequality as a systemic problem.  Along with youth workers, Patrick Mc Donagh and Thomas Joyce, Brian designed a project that used a PLiNGs pathway (personal, local, national, global) approach to situate the findings in terms of inclusion in Irish society, and to explore global connections with educational inequality.   

A systemic focus on education

In terms of capacity building and awareness raising about systemic educational inequality, we included young Travellers, the wider community, and other young people from ethnic minority backgrounds who also attend IYM in the project. A GYW approach was incorporated into the design and facilitation of workshops, this helped us to focus on critical thinking skills to raise awareness to the issues.

Led by youth workers

Our youth workers increased their own capacity during the project, specifically concerning research design skills, project management, research skills, and reflective practices. A key learning of the research was the depth of work required to turn the awareness of young people into action, and that knowledge sharing and support within the household is important to good research outcomes.   

Exploring global connections into the future

We have explored looking at local to global connections during this research project and have expanded our knowledge in this area; however, we feel there is still much to learn. Since we have already an international presence through Erasmus Youth Exchanges, we would like to work internationally in the future with other youth groups through Erasmus and connect with other Indigenous/Roma/ethnic minority groups. We think this would offer us the opportunity to meet people with the same concerns around educational inequalities as Travellers and other young people who are ethnic minorities, to deepen our understanding on the scale of this issue globally. In this way we would be able to make connections between Travellers and other minority ethnic disadvantaged groups across Europe and to create awareness”. 

“Youth workers at Youthwork Ireland Galway (YWIG) have been delivering a climate justice project for the last three years, in partnership with a youth centered project in Tanzania. This meaningfully engages young people in the governance process, particularly in relation to climate adaptation and mitigation policies.  This project is called, SAUTI (Sustainable Accountability Uniting Tanzanian and Irish Youth) and is an initiative funded by the European Commission (2019-2023), in collaboration with World Vision Ireland, YWIG and World Vision Tanzania.  Recently, Chris Nolan represented YWIG and SAUTI at the Youth2030 Leave No One Behind Panel for OWW. 

Diverse Skills and Voices

At YWIG, we were looking to extend the reach of the programme to include three key areas: 1. supporting the participation of young Travellers in climate justice work; 2. supporting our youth work staff to engage in a deeper way with climate justice issues, and a global youth work approach, and 3. to support the delivery of the Youth Climate Assembly in Galway City.     

Centring Traveller Culture and Identity in a Climate Justice Approach

Working with the Youth 2030 team, through the Innovation Fund, we saw developments in all these areas.  Our youth workers supported our young Traveller boys’ group to create greater awareness of Traveller culture. They engaged with older members of their community through a video project on identity and participated in a session on nomadic peoples’ global responses to climate change. We were proud to see their skill development including project and organisational skills through creation of a video from concept to gathering footage, to final production. 

Critical Thinking Skills

A key part of using a global youth work approach is using critical thinking skills, and following training, our youth workers reported a deepened knowledge on climate change and climate justice, especially following briefings on climate myth-busting.  They also showed greater confidence in connecting their understanding of groups they work with and their needs in exploring global justice issues, with the Sustainable Development Goals and climate change in a light-hearted, fun and engaging manner. 

The delivery of the Youth Climate Assembly was a great success, it saw the development of youth networks around climate and global justice. Young people also learned the potential of a youth-oriented consultative process. Participant feedback highlighted how much they appreciated the opportunity to have their voices heard and to listen to the voices of others. Many spoke positively of the Q&A space between participants and panelists, which led to constructive dialogue. 

Conversations on the terms of the young people of Galway

The project has supported our work in taking the conversation on climate change to a wider range of young people across Galway. This grant has been integral to exploring how best to have those conversations on the terms of the young people of Galway, whether that is young Travellers and their cultural insights on climate justice or more generally how young people might be meaningfully included in political decision making”. 

 

Climate Youth Assembly 2024

 East Wicklow Youth Service, part of the Crosscare charity network, proudly launched the Youth Innovation Project (YIP), a dynamic initiative which was supported by NYCI and Irish Aid that was designed to engage young people in addressing global issues through local action, promoting creativity, and empowering them as active global citizens. With a specific focus on climate justice, the project created a meaningful space for young people to participate and be leaders in shaping their communities.  

Climate Assembly 

On November 23rd, 22 young people took the lead in organising and  hosting a Climate Assembly, which provided a platform to discuss climate challenges and proposing real and actionable solutions. This event, supported by NYCI and the Critical Change Lab at Trinitey College Dulin and attended by local councillors, was a clear demonstration youth engagement with a purpose.  Participants were given the opportunity to explore their roles as change-makers while gaining a deeper understanding of climate justice. 

Policy recommendations

The young people and their youth worker had been advocating for an ongoing youth presence on Wicklow’s Climate Action Strategic Policy Committee (SPC).   In support of this, the local Kildare Wicklow ETB Youth Officer made specific recommendations at the assembly: 

1. Translating policy into accessible language.  

1. Ensuring the voices of young people are present in the document.  

1. Assigning young people, a named role in the policy’s implementation and evaluation. 

 Biodiversity Eco-Art Project 

In collaboration with Clean Coasts and a local artist and supported by Creative Wicklow, young people participated in beach and river cleanups around Arklow. These cleanups not only improved local ecosystems but also provided materials for a creative Eco-Art project. The artwork was showcased in a public exhibition at the local library and shopping centre, raising awareness about environmental issues and promoting sustainability through art. 

Civic Engagement and Advocacy 

Early in the project, along with guidance from a local councillor, the young people developed and submitted a motion to the county council on the importance of public space for young people. As part of this initiative, the young people were empowered to connect local challenges with global issues and equipped with tools to influence policy at the community level. These proposals highlight the importance of meaningful youth participation in policy development and ensure their input drives real change. 

Training and Workshops 

Both young people and the staff participated in a series of training sessions provided by NYCI, including: 

Climate Justice Workshop: Engaged young people to inspire tangible environmental action. 

Global Youth Work Training: Strengthened staff capacity to incorporate global perspectives into their work. 

Social Transformation Training: Empowered young people to become agents of change by supporting them to address systemic challenges and promote community transformation. 

The Youth Innovation Project framed local challenges within global contexts, emphasising interconnectedness and empowering participants to become active global citizens. By linking hands-on activities like the Eco-Art initiative with reflective events such as the Climate Assembly, the project inspired both awareness and action. 

Looking ahead, the project aims to deepen its impact by continuing youth consultations with the Wicklow Climate Action SPC. Participants will focus on ensuring policy is accessible, inclusive, and driven by meaningful youth involvement. The Youth Innovation Project stands as a powerful example of how youth-led initiatives can drive social transformation. By combining creativity, advocacy, and education, Crosscare/East Wicklow Youth Service demonstrated how small-scale, community-driven projects can contribute meaningfully to sustainable development, inspiring a new generation of informed and active global citizens. 

Belong To’s Annual LGBTQ+ Youth Leader Weekend Training 

 

Belong To, hosted their Annual LGBTQ+ Youth Leader Weekend Training, supported by Youth 2030, NYCI and Irish Aid. The event was held ahead of One World Week in October 2024 and aimed to promote leadership, connection and empowerment among LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-23, bringing together participants from across Ireland. The event primarily engaged youth services within the National Network of LGBTQ+ youth groups and those involved in the Rainbow Awards. 

LGBTQ+ Youth Leadership and global justice themes. 

The training took place over a weekend,  with an overnight residential to accommodate young people and youth workers traveling from near and far. A total of 31 young people and 11 youth workers participated in a dynamic day-and-a-half workshop that focused on LGBTQ+ Youth Leadership and global justice themes. 

Key Highlights: 

• Empowering LGBTQ+ Youth: A dedicated activity to support young people identify the power structures around them and reflect on the power they hold, both individually and collectively. This session encouraged young people to step into their power, promoting a sense of agency and confidence to build on their leadership within their communities. 

• Support for Youth Workers: While the young people were engaged in leadership-building exercises, their youth workers had a parallel space to share common challenges, build solidarity, and explore ways to better resource and support their young people. Youth workers emphasised the ongoing need for supportive spaces where they can come together, share experiences, and access resources to continue their vital work. This reinforced the continuous need for dedicated, supportive spaces for youth workers engaging with LGBTQ+ young people.  

• Amplifying Anti-Bullying Awareness: The weekend served as a platform to amplify Belong To’s Anti-Bullying Awareness Week, Stand Up. Young people were encouraged to develop their own school or youth-based projects, empowering them to take action against homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in their local communities. The young people expressed a strong willingness and eagerness to grow in their activism, not just locally but also at national and international levels. Stand Up gives them the platform to become agents of change in their community.  

• Integrating Global Youth Work: Workshops facilitated by NYCI Youth 2030 staff introduced participants to global citizenship education. These sessions connected LGBTQ+ rights to broader global justice issues, highlighting the intersections between the local and the global. This work directly contributed to Sustainable Development Goal 4.7 by supporting participants to become active and informed global citizens.  In addition, we highlighted the importance of SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities, specifically in terms of the targeting of LGBTQ+, migrant communities and disinformation with the global rise of the far-right.  Importantly too, we collaborated with an LGBTQ+ trainer to deliver this weekend,  a past participant of the NUI Cert in Global Youth Work and Development Education.  

Collaborative skills to support delivery

 The partnership between Belong To and NYCI proved to be a key factor in the event’s success and created a collaborative space that was impactful, meaningful, and well-rounded for all participants. This weekend marked a significant step toward a more collaborative future. Plans are already underway for a 2025 residential program focused on youth workers.    

Feedback: What are you taking away?

“Peer connection and a deeper sense of community”

“Hearing the voices of lots of different amazing young people”

“ideas for workshops”

“Incredible friends. All the laughs”

Fast Fashion and Slow Stitching:  Here is how seven girls from Belvedere Youth Club got creative with global justice. 

Pulling the curtain back on the fashion industry 

This wasn’t your average sewing circle, it was a youth work informed space. Designed by seven girls (aged 13–15) from Belvedere Youth Club, this project was all about pulling back the curtain on the fashion industry. Led by Denise McDonnell—fresh off her NUI Global Youth Work and De Certificate—and volunteer Mimi Masiga, the group set out to see if they could swap “fast fashion” habits for something more ethical. 

What Happened 

The group didn’t just talk about clothes; they got involved in making clothes: 

• The T-Shirt’s Secret Life: With help from activist Vicky Donnelly from Financial Justice Ireland, the girls tracked a T-shirt from cotton fields and chemical dyes to the factory floor. Learning about the pollution and tough living conditions for factory workers hit home, sparking a lot of empathy. 

• Getting Crafty: Most of the girls hadn’t used fabric scissors or sewing machines before. They headed to Change Clothes  to work with Jo May, where they worked on their motor skills and started making their own pieces. One girl who usually keeps to herself totally opened up, saying, “I’m going to be really creative with this!” 

• Reflect on Power: The Youth 2030 team ran an evaluation session with the group to reflect on their learning journey and the impact that this project had on their way of seeing themselves, each other, and the world around them.  

The Impact 

The project didn’t end when the sewing machines were unplugged. The real magic happened in the weeks following: 

• Developing Real-World Skills:  One of the participants, helped her Nanny repair old clothes, while another participant finished her “rag rug” at home and proudly wore her handmade scrunchie to dance class. 

• Being more Mindful Shoppers: During a Christmas “drop-in” session, two young people talked about checking their wardrobes to stop impulse buying, and being more aware of the journey of clothes.  

• Stepping up and Taking the Stage: Two more young people took their new knowledge to the national stage at the Youth 2030 One World Week event. 

The Big Takeaway for Belvedere 

For Denise and Mimi, the lesson was clear: don’t be afraid to introduce “heavy” global topics. By making complex issues like global supply chains accessible and hands-on, they turned an unfamiliar subject into a passion project and very relevant to young people.  

What’s next? Belvedere is keeping the momentum going. They are reviewing their 2026 timetable to bring in more upcycling and sewing workshops, and they’re exploring ways to continue incorporating sustainable themes into their regular timetable which will be reviewed in January 2026 up until the summer of 2026, for example these could include workshops on upcycling, basic sewing and creative design. In addition, looking at building partnerships with local organisations or artists who specialise in sustainability to offer the group deeper learning experiences. The project has encouraged Belvedere to keep creating spaces where young people can try new topics and build practical, future-focused skills in an increasingly globalised world. 

Feedback: 

“The young people were impacted by the living conditions of the factory workers in the sessions with Vicky, particularly around the pollution in the areas they live in and how this impacts them.” 

“I liked that the young people really embraced the project and were willing to try something new.” 

“The young people learnt a new skill using the sewing machines and actively walked in the shoes of clothing factories workers.” 

 “One young person continued working outside of the creative sessions and completed the rag rug and wore the scrunchie to a dance class.” 

 

 

 

 

 

Power: What does it have to do with me: Finding Our Voice at Blakestown NYP 

This case study highlights how the Youth 2030 Global Youth Work programme supported youth workers and young people in Blakestown NYP to build confidence, critical thinking skills, and an understanding of their political voice, contributing directly to SDG 4.7.  For this project, we worked with 15 young people, from 5-7pm x 7 Wednesdays, the young people were aged 12-14yrs.  Young people are referred to Blakestown NYP for a number of trauma related reasons so we (Youth 2030 & Blakestown NYP) wanted to create a space where they felt like the experts of their own lives. 

What we did 

This wasn’t a “sit and listen” project, but true to a youth work approach, we used Theatre of the Oppressed with drama skills and role play to act out real-life challenges and to dig into big ideas like:  

Global Citizenship: How we fit into the bigger world. 

Political voice: What is this? How do I get it? Wait, do I already have it? 

Power Plays: Who has power, how it affects us, and how we can claim it in everyday interactions.

Critical Thinking: Questioning the way things are instead of just accepting them. 

 7 week workshop plan

The Youth 2030 Team worked directly to support Blakestown NYP youth workers to build a ‘Power Container’ for the 7-week period.  Helping them to set up the space so that it became a place that the young people wanted to come to.  Two Theatre of the Oppressed practitioners supported the building of skills within this space.  

The outcomes included the following: 

By the end of the 7-week process: 

• A confidence boost: The young people took massive pride in what they achieved. 

• The transformative nature of youth work: they worked across a whole process with awareness raising, empowering strategies and understanding the value of a political voice.  Youth workers also skilled up on using power to effect change. 

• The power of drama: Using acting to explore “the system” made complex ideas make sense. 

• Feeling valued: For many, the best part was simply being heard and respected by facilitators who treated them like their voices actually mattered. 

• New friendships: This was a brand-new group, and they really clicked through the process. 

 

This group has stayed together and is now focusing on building their leadership skills. The goal? Forming a brand-new NYP Youth Committee. 

They want to secure funding to bring the group away on an experiential 3-4 night trip away e.g. Carlingford to plan for the Youth Committee 2026-2027. The aim is to support young people to build their political voice to engage with decision makers. 

 

Case Study: Finding a Voice in Cork 

Case Study: Finding a Voice in Ireland and Beyond

For many young people of African descent growing up in Ireland, the journey of identity can feel like a balancing act. How do you merge the heritage of your parents with the reality of life in Ireland? How do you feel fully Irish while still honouring where you come from? And how do you navigate a society where representation has not always reflected your full story?

Love and Care for People (LCP) has been working to address these questions since 2018. The organisation was partly founded in response to persistent negative imagery used in Ireland and across Europe that portrayed African children primarily as hungry, helpless, and impoverished. While poverty and hardship are real global issues, the constant circulation of one-dimensional images shaped harmful narratives.

These portrayals subtly reinforced stereotypes and, in many cases, contributed to racism and low self-esteem among children and young people of African descent growing up in Ireland.

LCP was partly established to challenge that narrative, to create space for dignity, representation, identity, and voice. This long-standing vision continues through the recent project, “Using Voice as a Tool for Social Transformation.”

Led by facilitator Kelvin Akpaloo, alongside a dedicated team of youth workers and supported by empowerment workshops with the Youth 2030 team, the project brought together 20 teenagers (ages 13–17) for a journey of self-discovery, creativity, and civic engagement, connecting their lived experiences in Ireland to wider global conversations about identity, justice, and belonging.

The Vision: Identity, Citizenship, and Global Connection

While LCP’s roots go back to 2001, the organisation continues to evolve in response to the changing realities of young people in Ireland led by Ini Usanga. After completion of the Level 8 NUI Certificate in Global Youth Work and Development Education in 2024, Ini developed this project to intentionally integrate the principles of SDG 4.7 (Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship) into its framework.

The aim was to ensure that participants see themselves not only as members of their local communities, but as global citizens and changemakers. Young people were encouraged to confidently claim their dual identity, being fully Irish while remaining fully connected to their heritage, and to develop the confidence to speak up locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Process: Art as Advocacy

The project used theatre, poetry, and movement as tools to explore complex topics such as anti-racism, discrimination, representation, migration, and belonging.

Creative Workshops:

Participants used spoken word, storytelling, and performance to unpack their lived experiences and challenge dominant narratives.

Skill Building:

Beyond artistic expression, the group learned the practical foundations of advocacy, how to engage with decision-makers, structure persuasive arguments, and understand civic systems in Ireland.

Critical Thinking:

Through guided discussions, participants examined global inequalities and media representation, fostering solidarity, empathy, and collective awareness.

By combining creativity with civic education, the project transformed artistic expression into a vehicle for social transformation.

The Impact: From Rehearsal to Public Voice

The impact of the project became visible when participants stepped beyond the workshop space and onto a public stage. During the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the group performed a collaborative artistic piece before a large audience that included community leaders and local stakeholders.

This was more than a performance; it was a declaration of presence and agency.

By the end of the programme, participants were building confidence to engage with institutions such and the Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC), and local public representatives. More importantly, they began to see themselves as part of a broader global movement advocating for equity, representation, and justice.

Looking Ahead

The success of this initiative builds upon a foundation laid in 2008, challenging narratives, strengthening identity, and creating platforms for young people’s voices in Ireland and beyond.

LCP plans to:

Extend training time to deepen artistic and advocacy development.

Increase direct engagement between young people and policymakers at local and national levels.

Expand platforms for showcasing youth-led advocacy outcomes across Ireland and through international partnerships.

By treating “voice” as a muscle that must be exercised and strengthened, LCP continues to ensure that the next generation of leaders is not only visible, but heard, respected, and empowered to shape conversations far beyond their immediate communities.