Our Activities

Social Inclusion Initiatives

The Department provides grants for projects and events that are compatible with the Department’s goals and objectives which serve to raise public awareness of poverty and social exclusion and have recently included the following:

• Young Social Innovators

The Department provided funding to sponsor an annual social inclusion award to a school that best meets the YSI challenge of “Making our Country more Inclusive and Poverty Free”. Between 5,000 and 6,000 teenage participants take part in the Social Innovation Action Programme each year making it is the biggest celebration of social activism in Ireland and providing an opportunity for these young people to show what work they have done in the year to change the world for good. A wide range of secondary school students in various locations across the country compete for this award, which is presented as part of the YSI Showcase event normally held in May each year.

• United Nations International Day

October 17th each year is designated as the Annual United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (UN Day). It is a day to express friendship and solidarity with people who have to live with poverty and social exclusion every day of the year, in Ireland, Europe and around the world. Each year the Social Inclusion Division supports a nationwide public initiative to promote awareness of the UN Day. Local community groups and projects working to tackle poverty and promote social inclusion are invited to submit proposals aimed at promoting UN Day.