Young Social Innovators

By Padraig Englishby, TY.

The Transition Year students at Athboy Community School who took part in the Young Social Innovators (YSI) programme have been hard at work on a project involving sleep and devices and the survey results are eye-opening.

Out of 143 respondents to a survey, nearly 54% said they use their phone “every night” or “most nights” and 44% said they get “6–8 hours” of sleep each night – less than the recommended average for their age group.

The ACS Young Social Innovators aim to change all those numbers – and more.

Our message follows expert advice: Establish a positive bedtime routine; Limit screentime before bed; Turn off screens/devices one hour before bed; Buy a real alarm clock.

“Your sleep isn’t optional. Your health depends on it.”

That was the final slogan of Athboy Community School’s YSI performance that took place on March19th, where the TY Young Innovators presented their project at the Tommy Leddy Theatre in Drogheda. ACS joined schools from across the country to share ideas for social change. The YSI Speak Out Tour celebrates youth voice and innovation, giving hundreds of students the chance to present projects to peers, guests, and a YSI panel.

A huge well done to everyone who took part, with a particular mention to Clodagh Cunningham and Aimee Coughlan for the professional soundtrack they created, and special thanks to our YSI Guide Ms. Cashman.