The International Fund for Ireland has celebrated the success of £2m media programme designed to help young children to develop positive attitudes to diversity.

Developed and run by Early Years – the Organisation for Young Children – the three-year ‘Respecting Difference’ programme engaged with some 240 pre-school settings and reached out to more than 5,000 young children in Northern Ireland and the Southern border counties.

It delivered bespoke mutual understanding and diversity training and resource packs for teachers, parents and pre-school managers and offered continuous delivery support from an Early Years specialist. The programme also featured high impact cartoon adverts to complement the classroom-based activities.

The International Fund for Ireland provided more than £1.1m for the ‘Respecting Difference’ programme with additional funding coming from Atlantic Philanthropies and the Department of Education.

Delivering the opening address at an end of programme celebration in Enniskillen, Fund Board Member Dorothy Clarke said:  “Research has shown that children as young as six can have sectarian attitudes that manifest into sectarian and racial remarks. If we want to move forward in our society towards lasting peace and a shared future then we must find innovative ways to help children understand and embrace diversity and difference.

“The feedback from this programme has been overwhelming positive from children, teachers and parents. The success of the ‘Respecting Difference’ programme has shown that no one is too young to hear, understand and respond to the simple messages of inclusion and respect. The Fund has been pleased to support this original initiative which has been designed carefully to enrich our children and our future.”

Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive of Early Years – the Organisation for Young Children – said:

“We’ve worked hard to ensure that this three-year programme could make a significant contribution in changing sectarian attitudes and behaviour of young people in Northern Ireland and the Southern Border counties. ‘Respecting Difference’ has delivered a suite of innovative materials, training and skills for pre-school teachers to help tackle issues of sectarianism, racism and inclusion.

“This unique programme has developed cartoons and interactive play materials to help children understand and respect those who are different and encourage inclusion in a simple child-friendly way. It has been a good investment for children and that, ultimately, will be a good investment for everyone.”

Last year a second phase of the Respecting Difference programme was rolled out in counties Cavan and Monaghan.

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