The STAND Student Festival returns to campuses this Autumn
The annual STAND Student Festival is set to return to campuses across Ireland from 27 September to 12 November 2021, putting stories of hope, determination and resilience centre-stage.
Run by students, for students, the STAND Student Festival has been bringing award-winning photography, film and events focused on global justice to campuses across Ireland every autumn since 2013.
The theme of this year’s festival is RESILIENCE and will celebrate young people’s courage and creativity in rising up in the face of global challenges. The festival and exhibition will spend one week on each of the thirteen campuses and host a variety of events from speakers and debates to online workshops and panel discussions.
[To find out when the exhibition will be on each campus and when events will take place, click here. ]
Students, staff and faculty, across Ireland are invited to take part in free events, visit the travelling exhibition and take the pledge to #RISEUP with STAND and the Union of Students Ireland (USI), joining a community of like-minded students and recent graduates passionate about standing up for justice, equality and inclusion.
Exhibition
The #RISEUP exhibition features illustrated portraits of 20 young activists and communities who have risen up to take action in the areas of Climate Change, Gender Equality, Mental Health and Social Inclusion. From Ireland to Kenya, Somalia to South Africa, Uganda to Afghanistan, each of these individuals and communities have demonstrated extraordinary courage, creativity and dedication in tackling global challenges.
Among those featured are Irish climate activist Saoi O’Connor, LGBTQ+ rights activist Alex Kofi Donker from Ghana, Disabled Women Ireland and Senator Eileen Flynn, the first Traveller woman to have a seat at the Oireachtas.
Speaking on this year’s festival:
Quote from STAND Brand Ambassador/ Festival Coordinator
“The exciting thing about this year's STAND festival is how relevant the topic is to all of us. Making [resilience] this year's theme is helping all of us to celebrate the positive in the world even among all the negative we lived through in the past year.”
- STAND Brand Ambassador, Christine Brungard, IT Carlow
Quote from Caitriona Rogerson, STAND
“We are excited to bring the STAND Student Festival back on campus, and 2021 marks the biggest festival yet. There are lots of ways to get involved - check out our travelling Exhibition, attend an event or film screening on your campus, and be sure to sign the pledge to #RiseUp to join a community of like-minded young people passionate about standing up for global justice.
- Caitriona Rogerson, STAND Activities Coordinator
Quote from Featured Activists:
‘“I’m thrilled to be featured alongside so many amazing changemakers in this year’s STAND Student Exhibition. Despite the challenges of the last 18 months, seeing so many young people rising up to build a better and fairer world gives me hope. If you want to create change, remember to listen to your community, follow your instincts & build what you believe in!”
- Louisamay Hanarahan, Founder, Let’s Help Direct Provision & Let’s Match Mums