Conflict Specific Research

Changing Children's Conversation

Children live what they learn and prejudice is often mirrored unknowingly by children in what they say about others who are different than themselves. But it can be addressed and changed as illustrated by these statements from young children in Northern Ireland who experienced the Media Initiative For Children:

Before:

“How can you be a teacher? You're Chinese!”

“Only Catholics play with hurly sticks.”

“I can't go and play there because that's where the Orangeland is.”

“You don't go past the gates unless you're going to throw stones at the Catholics.”

“Mom, why is that man black?”

After:

New awareness and understanding as a result of participation in the MIFC program shows the beginning of a new dialogue:

Out to dinner with her family, a young girl explained to her parents, “Those people are Chinese. They look different on the outside but on the inside they're the same.”

Relating to the MIFC cartoon character, a young boy told his teacher, “I feel sad today; I feel like Tom.”

“Nobody's playing with him. He must be feeling sad.”

In keeping with its operating principles, it is important that Pii understands the basis for a conflict before it begins the actual work of crafting and distributing messages. Pii accomplishes this by going into the area and starting dialogues with people and organizations involved in the various aspects of peace building. To the extent possible, Pii also talks with individuals on all sides of the ideological barriers, including combatants and victims, to learn the local nature and nuances of the conflict. Through these discussions, Pii hopes to understand the extent to which people and communities are “dug in” around the locally established battle lines.

Through these diverse dialogues, Pii gains understanding of the social climate and what the specific entities have to gain or lose from the peace process. When possible and appropriate, Pii presents its vision to the people and organizations from which it gathers information. It is from this group that Pii is most likely to select the members of its local Advisory Council.