“The training programme for teachers has proved to be an extremely important element of the initiative as it has supported adults in exploring their own attitudes to difference and in turn introduce a respecting difference curriculum with pre school children. This we believe is a crucial element in changing behaviour“ - Siobhan Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive, NIPPA, Northern Ireland (NI)

Current Projects

Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland 

Pii established a successful partnership in Northern Ireland (NI) to develop and implement its first MIFC. The MIFC-NI combines 60-second TV messages with intense preschool learning in early years education settings. Preschool materials incorporate the TV cartoon characters in dolls, puzzles, and songs to reinforce messages on respecting differences.

Together with NIPPA-The Early Years Organization, Pii launched a widespread program in NI in 2004 which has grown to four customized media modules. Pii's work focuses on respect for four areas of difference: physical, ethnic, cultural/religious, and behavioral. As of early 2007, the results are impressive:

  • More than 10,000 young children have experienced the program.
  • More than 300 teachers have undergone training to examine their own personal history and possible prejudices and become better qualified to teach the curriculum.
  • The media components, teacher training, and take-home exercises for parents allowed the reach and impact of this program to go far beyond the immediate classroom. Anecdotal feedback from teachers, parents, and older children throughout the country indicates widespread enthusiasm for the Media Initiative For Children-Northern Ireland.
  • Research - measured, quantified, and analyzed by Dr. Paul Connolly, an expert in early years education at Queens University, Dr. Paul Connolly - was conducted with over 1,000 children through four research interventions. Results show that children who have completed the curriculum are:

- More likely to recognize that a child is being excluded

- More likely to recognize how a child who is excluded feels

- More willing to play with all children, even those previously shunned

  • The NI Council for Integrated Education is using the MIFC in its own preschools, exposing thousands more children to the message.
  • The NI government has committed to core funding to integrate MIFC into stationary schools (i.e., public schools).
  • Acceptance for this program continues to grow - the governments of both Northern Ireland and the Republic, in an unprecedented move, recently jointly sponsored the latest MIFC module on an Anti-Bullying theme, making the MIFC a pan-Irish program.
  • In addition to the expansion of the geographic territory to cover both NI and ROI, MIFC is addressing new social issues such as respect for traveler's children (also referred to as “gypsies”).
  • Post Pii's seed funding, the project is now self sustaining through in-country financial support from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, NI Department of Education, Community Relations Council (NI), and Department of Foreign Affairs (ROI). Pii is moving to more of an advisory role in this project.
  • The NI government will provide core funding to integrate MIFC concepts into higher grade levels and expand into the core curriculum at lower grade levels.

Scotland

Pii is currently working with the Scottish Pre-school Play Association (SPPA) and NIPPA, The Early Years Organisation, to explore MIFC in Scotland and Kosovo that will address the social issues causing conflict in these countries.

 

Copyright 2005-2008