Board of Advisors
We observed the significant and multifaceted challenges faced by young people from BAME, newcomer, asylum seeker, and refugee backgrounds in Northern Ireland. Their struggles highlighted a glaring need for support, sparking the initial idea for Diverse Youth NI.
2017
Understanding Barriers
As our journey continued in 2019, we delved deeper into the educational and social barriers these young individuals face. The lack of tailored support systems exacerbated their struggles, reinforcing our mission to create meaningful solutions.
2018
Committing to Support
This inspiration culminated in 2021, fuelling our commitment to create an environment where these young individuals could receive the support they needed to succeed. This marked the formal inception of Diverse Youth NI, driven by our unwavering dedication to empowering the youth in our community.
2019
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Recognising the Need
It becameclear thatthe difficulties faced by BAME youth, especially migrants and refugees, required dedicated attention. This recognition solidified our resolve to establish Diverse Youth NI, aimed at addressing these specific challenges.
2020
Drawing Inspirationfrom the Community
our motivations were further strengthened by the resilience and potential we saw in young migrants and refugees. Despite the significant obstacles, their strength and desire to thrive inspired us to foster social cohesion and mutual understanding within our diverse communities.
2021
Board of Advisors
A brief description of Advisors and their relation to the organisation.
The Board of Directors
The charitable company is governed by a board of Directors
(volunteers and members of the Executive Committee)
Meet the Team
Diverse Youth NI isrun by a dedicated team, many of whom have served the charity for many years, committed to improving the prospects, health and wellbeingofyoung people.
Timeline of DYNI
Our History
Radicalised by the lived experiences of marginalisation and inspired by the resilience of displaced communities, Diverse Youth NI was born out of a collective response to the increasing struggles faced by BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic), newcomer, asylum seeker, and refugee youth in Northern Ireland.
2017 — Witnessing Struggles The seeds of the organisation were planted in 2017, when the founders began to observe the growing educational, social, and emotional barriers confronting young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Their exclusion and unmet needs sparked the vision of a youth – led response.
2018 — Recognising the Need It became evident that systemic inequalities and lack of representation were deeply affecting the life chances of these young people. The founders began formalising their ideas into an initiative that would respond directly to these challenges with care, creativity, and community.
2019 — Understanding Barriers As their understanding deepened, the group began actively engaging with the communities affected. They explored the educational gaps, mental health burdens, and cultural exclusion experienced by young migrants. That same year, Diverse Youth NI was formally founded.
2020 — Drawing Inspiration from the Community The team was further inspired by the strength, leadership, and potential shown by young people despite immense adversity. Their resilience served as a driving force behind the organisation’s mission to build social cohesion, mutual understanding, and long – term support structures.
2021 — Committing to Support By 2021, Diverse Youth NI was fully operational. Guided by its core values —Inclusivity, Respect, Diversity, Empowerment, and Equality—DYNI launched its first formal programmes, becoming a hub for youth empowerment, education, and advocacy.
The Present Day
Today, Diverse Youth NI is a vital voice in the youth and community sector. With over 263 registered young people from more than a dozen countries including Nigeria, Syria, Ukraine, Eritrea, and India, the organisation delivers a wide range of services —from educational tutoring and digital skills programmes to mental health support and cultural engagement projects.
DYNI continues to lead grassroots youth – led initiatives such as Vote at 16 , H i M8 – It’s Okay Not to Be Okay, and digital co – pilot projects with Ulster University , while advocating at governmental levels, including presenting to the NI Assembly Committee for Education. Rooted in North Belfast and supported by organisations such as BBC Children in Need, Community Foundation NI , and Queen’s University Belfast, Diverse Youth NI remains committed to building a Northern Ireland where all young people, regardless of background, can thrive in a society that celebrates diversity and inclusion.
