Young Social Innovators - Voice of youth must be heard

The clear message to emerge from the Young Social Innovators (YSI) in Dublin yesterday was that young people have to be listened to and not taken for granted by the decision-makers, which in most cases means the Government.

In a series of studies, ranging from safe sex to crime, mental health to road safety, teenage pregnancy to the environment, these young people expounded views which will have to be listened to.

The surveys they undertook were revealing, such as the fact that only one-third of transition-year students at one school knew what the term STI (sexually transmitted infection) meant.

Attending the event was Education Minister Mary Hanafin, who made the point that all too often decisions were made without listening to the next generation.

Hopefully, she will bring back to the Cabinet her view that policies are stronger when the voices of young people are listened to.

Her view was echoed by Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, the YSI chairperson, who called on the Government to ensure that structures are put in place to enable young people to take a more active role in their local communities.