Young Humanitarian Award
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Nelson Mandela once said: “Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that generation.” The Irish Red Cross emphatically agrees with this view and recognises that the vision and humanitarian actions of our young people are critical to finding the solutions to tomorrow’s challenges.
The Young Humanitarian Award has been established to recognise the extraordinary contribution of a young person who has demonstrated inspired leadership in support of a humanitarian cause.
The recipient of this honour will have demonstrated true leadership and a genuine spirit of goodwill, volunteerism, philanthropy and/or humanitarianism in the benefit of others.
Lauren Jones Brennan – Young Humanitarian of the Year 2025
Lauren has emerged as a powerful advocate for youth rights, climate action, gender equality, and peacebuilding at the international level. She has spoken at numerous high-profile United Nations conferences, including the UN General Assembly, Summit of the Future, World Food Forum, COP 29, Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), Commission for Social Development (CSocD), Commission on Population and Development (CPD), UN Conference on Drugs and Crime, and High-Level Week. She is scheduled to participate in upcoming sessions of the Human Rights Council, Financing for Development, and the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF).
Her impactful work includes securing critical funding for youth delegates from the Global South, ensuring their voices are included in international discussions and reinforcing the need for greater representation of marginalised regions in global forums. Lauren played a key role in shaping Ireland’s Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) National Action Plan, ensuring youth perspectives were integrated into peacebuilding efforts. She has co-authored several UN youth resolutions that were adopted to strengthen global commitments to youth inclusion and human rights, advancing youth-driven policy changes in international decision-making.
Beyond her international policy work, Lauren has a strong commitment to local humanitarian efforts. She has supported refugee communities through mentorship and English-language assistance, raised €27,000 for poverty alleviation through St. Vincent de Paul (SVP), and collaborated with organisations addressing food insecurity. She leads regular training sessions on leadership, climate justice, and peacebuilding, providing young people with practical tools to create meaningful change in their communities.