
Who We Are
Five Artists: Nikita Abuya from Kenya, Béibhínn McCarthy, Tara O’Brien, Neave Alouf from Ireland and Viktoria Spokojna from Berlin
STAND Activities Coordinator, Caitriona Rogerson and Marketing and Branding Awareness Coordinator Madeline Campbell.
What We Did
In 2021, the STAND Student Festival celebrated collective resilience in the face of global challenges. From the fight for climate justice to social inclusion, gender equality to mental health, this year’s #RISEUP Exhibition puts stories of hope, determination, and resilience centre-stage.
The #RISEUP Exhibition showcased twenty changemakers from around the world who have risen up to take action for positive change. From Ireland to Kenya, Somalia to South Africa, Uganda to Afghanistan, these individuals and collectives have shown courage, creativity and dedication in tackling global challenges.
The following are but a few of the images included in the exhibition which toured the 14 participating campuses.





The activists and changemakers included in the exhibition included:
Climate Action:
- Saoi O’Connor (18) – Climate Activist, Ireland
- Nzambi Matee (29) – Social Entrepreneur & Engineer, Kenya
- Vanessa Nakate (24) – Climate Activist, Uganda
- Nina Gualinga (27) – Climate & Indigenous Rights Activist, Ecuador
- Aisling Byrne (27) – Entrepreneur, Fashion Activist, and Founder of Nuw, Ireland
Equality:
- Senator Eileen Flynn (31) – First Traveller to have a seat in the Oireachtas, Ireland
- Alex Kofi Donker (29) – Founder of LGBT+ Rights Ghana, Ghana
- Disabled Women Ireland (DWI), Ireland
- Louisamay Hanrahan (29)- Founder of Let’s Help Direct Provision & Let’s Match Mums, Ireland
- Black & Irish, Ireland
Women & Gender Equality
- Ifrah Ahmed (32) – FGM activist and campaigner, Somalia/Ireland
- #MeToo Movement, Global
- Movement to Repeal the Eighth Amendment, Ireland
- Candice Chirwa (25) – Menstruation Activist, South Africa
- Sonita Alizadeh (25) – Rapper & activist on Child Marriage, Afghanistan
Mental Health
- Jay Buntin & Mathew Taylor (19) Founders of Pure Mental, Northern Ireland
- Adam Harris (25)Founder of AsIAm, National Autism Charity, Ireland
- Geraldine McDonnell (25) Traveller & Mental Health worker, Pavee Point, Ireland
- Blessing Dada, (21) Irish-Nigerian Mental Health Activist
- Hauwa Ojeifa (29) – mental health activist, Nigeria
Features, blogs and guides

Mary Lawlor: Defending Human Rights Defenders
A Conversation with the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights Defenders The latest episode of the Irish Global Solidarity in 100 Objects podcast features Mary

Irish Women in Activism and Advocacy: In Awe of All Mná
Explore inspiring stories of Irish women in activism and advocacy who have fought for human rights, social justice, and equality at home and abroad

Call for resource submissions open – education resources during an era of climate promises, disinformation and pandemics
Submit or recommend resources to be included in the Ireland-wide audit of development education and global citizenship education resources.

Podcast: If Another World Is Possible, It Is Up to Us to Make It So
A Reflection on Palestinian Solidarity and Collective Action In this episode of the Irish Global Solidarity in 100 Objects podcast, Ciara Regan revisits her 2021

Podcast: Exploring Global Citizenship with a Ball of String
The Power of Simple Tools in Teaching Global Citizenship Sometimes, the most impactful lessons emerge from the simplest tools. In the latest episode of the

Podcast: Caoimhe Butterly on why “rest is revolutionary”
Ciara Regan catches up with Caoimhe Butterly about her social justice activism and her work supporting migrants and volunteers on the island of Lesvos, Greece