The Heart of Diverse Youth NI
Our members are the driving force behind everything we do. They are young people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, lived experiences, and identities who come together to learn, lead, create, and support one another. Each member brings their own voice, story, and strengths, contributing to a dynamic youth community that reflects the rich diversity of Northern Ireland today.
Our membership includes young people from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, newcomer, asylum seeker, and refugee communities, along with allies who believe in inclusion, equality, and positive change. They shape our programmes, influence our decision making, and help us build a stronger and more welcoming society.
Who Our Members Are
Young People Seeking Belonging
Many of our members are young people who are new to life in Northern Ireland or have grown up navigating questions of identity and inclusion. They find in DYNI a safe place where they do not have to explain who they are, because diversity is celebrated from the start.
Emerging Leaders
Our members are youth leaders in the making. Some are discovering their strengths for the first time, while others are already taking on leadership roles, speaking at events, organising campaigns, and influencing change in their communities.
Creators, Thinkers, and Innovators
Members bring talents in art, media, storytelling, sports, science, advocacy, and more. They spark creative projects, shape our campaigns, and help us rethink how youth work can be more representative and empowering.
Active Citizens
Our members are deeply engaged with issues such as inclusion, equality, good relations, mental wellbeing, cultural diversity, and community safety. They participate in consultations, public events, and cross-community spaces where their insights influence real conversations.
Supportive Peer Community
Being a member is not only about programmes. It is joining a peer group that understands the challenges and successes of growing up in multicultural Northern Ireland. Members support each other, share advice, and build friendships that extend far beyond the organisation.
What Members Contribute
Our members help shape the direction of DYNI by:
- Co-designing sessions and programmes
- Sharing experiences that inform our advocacy
- Leading workshops or supporting peer learning
- Representing DYNI at events, conferences, and community spaces
- Creating artwork, media content, and social action projects
- Giving feedback that helps us grow as an organisation
Members are not passive participants. They are collaborators and partners in everything we do.
A Community That Keeps Growing
Every year, our membership expands as more young people hear about DYNI from friends, schools, youth workers, or community partners. Our members come from more than twenty countries and speak dozens of languages, yet in our programmes, these differences become strengths.
Together, they build the youth movement that is redefining what belonging, leadership, and community look like in modern Northern Ireland.
Benefits
Why Become a DYNI Member?
Membership at Diverse Youth NI gives young people access to a wide range of opportunities that support their growth, wellbeing, and future pathways. It is completely free, and designed especially for young people from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, newcomer, asylum seeker, and refugee backgrounds who may not always have access to supportive networks or structured youth programmes.
Our membership is more than a sign-up form. It is an entry point into a community that celebrates diversity, champions youth leadership, and creates meaningful spaces for belonging.
