From this month, around 4,000 Irish teenagers will take on five of Ireland’s most pressing social challenges — from hidden poverty to displaced populations — with the support of hundreds of industry mentors through The B!G Idea.
The B!G Idea is an award-winning education programme that teaches creative thinking and problem-solving skills and helps students turn concern into action.
A recent B!G Idea survey shows that Irish teenagers are deeply concerned about:
As a result, these themes now form the foundation of students’ projects across the programme.
Transition Year and Leaving Certificate Applied students from 75 schools and 14 Youthreach services across 22 counties will take part in the 12-week programme.
Throughout the process, students learn structured problem-solving through creative thinking, critical thinking, and collaboration. They then apply these skills to develop real solutions. These ideas take many forms, including digital experiences, products, services, spaces, and technology-based solutions — at both local and global levels.
According to Kim Mackenzie-Doyle, CEO and Founder of The B!G Idea, the programme reflects the rapid changes Irish society has experienced in recent years.
“We simply have to think differently. Creative thinking is a powerful way to solve the biggest problems young people are living through. These creative skills are now among the most in-demand skills globally — and they give students the confidence to make real change.”
Kim founded The B!G Idea to bridge the gap between education and industry and to address Ireland’s growing creative skills gap.
Now in its third year, The B!G Idea is a free and inclusive programme for students and schools. Corporate partners, grants, sponsors, and multi-sector mentors fund the initiative. The programme is also accredited by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) at the Department of Education.
Niamh Cooney, Head of Development and Sustainability, is currently recruiting mentors for this year’s programme.
Mentors will begin supporting student teams online in February and May, offering feedback, insight, and encouragement through The B!G Idea platform.
“We would love to see companies across Ireland signing up employees together,” says Niamh.
“Mentoring is a powerful way to pay knowledge forward, connect teams, boost morale, and support our future innovators.”
Mentors contribute just 4–6 hours of their time. However, the impact on students is enormous. All projects align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, helping young people connect creativity with global responsibility.
Diversity remains central to the programme. Mentors come from a wide range of industries and roles, including CEOs, graduates, technologists, designers, engineers, architects, educators, scientists, legal experts, marketing professionals, and entrepreneurs. This variety ensures students gain exposure to many perspectives and career pathways.
