Youth-Led Survey Aims to Shape How Young People Connect Across Derry City & Strabane District

A group of 17-year-old students working as Sparks DC have launched a district-wide survey to better understand what young people in Derry~Londonderry and Strabane want and how they want to be informed about opportunities in their area.

Formerly known as Circle Up, Sparks DC were announced as winners of the Hightop Competition at the TechTides Youth Conference for their idea to create a mobile app to promote access and engagement in initiatives such as theatre, sport, music, etc. 

The survey, now live, invites young people aged 11–19 across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area to share their views on local activities, support services, events and opportunities, and whether they feel connected to what is happening around them.

The team’s aim is not to create assumptions but to gather evidence.

“There’s actually a lot happening in our region,” Sparks DC, Co-Founder, Rebecca Furey, said, "but we’ve realised that many young people either don’t know about it, don’t hear about it in the right way, or don’t feel it’s for them. Before anything new is created, we need to understand what young people really want.”

The survey seeks to identify:

• The types of opportunities young people would like to see more of

• How they prefer to receive information

• Which platforms and formats they actually use

• Whether feeling informed and connected impacts their wellbeing

“We don’t want adults deciding how young people should be reached,” Omosomhi Okoyomoh, Sparks DC Co-Founder, added. “We'll build a solution based on what we learn from the data. It might be a regular printed or digital newsletter that's shared, or it might even be an app. We want young people to tell us directly.”

"The skills we're learning enable us to experience entrepreneurship first-hand, taking an idea from concept to product launch and delivery. I can already see how the role I am playing in the team will strengthen further career opportunities,” commented Sparks DC Co-Founder Jayden Tang. 

The survey was officially launched at the Peace Bridge and Ebrington Square, chosen as a symbol of connection and communication, reflecting the core focus of the initiative.

The survey is anonymous and takes only a few minutes to complete.

Once the results are analysed, the students plan to design a youth-informed way of sharing information across the region, shaped entirely by what young people say works best for them.

Are you aged between 11 and 19 and living in the Derry City and Strabane District Council Area? If so, please complete this survey before 6th march.

Take the Survey