Students from three Fermoy schools were among 200 young people who gathered in Cork City Hall this week to speak out on the social issues concerning them in their community and wider society, and presenting the creative solutions they are taking to tackle them.

Obesity, body confidence and testicular cancer are among the issues that were highlighted at the event on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Students from the three Fermoy secondary schools – Coláiste an Chraoibhin, Loreto Secondary School and St Colman’s College took part along with Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, Co-founder and Director of Young Social Innovators and its chief executive and co-founder, Rachel Collier.

Young Social Innovators Speak Out is part of the annual project-based social innovation programme for 15-18 year olds, supported by the Vodafone Ireland Foundation. This year nine regional events are taking place offering all 6,000 young people participating in YSI the opportunity to speak out on their chosen issue to an audience of community leaders, voluntary organisations and members of the public.