Good Relations Respecting Difference
Support and building communities together
We are committed to giving our children and young people the best start in life and working towards a shared society that respects diversity. Our early years programmes influence good relations, sustainability and resilience of community, promoting inclusion, respectful of difference and shared learning.
Our evidence-informed programmes can be used as standalone initiatives to support children to develop holistically. When implemented with natural curriculum they enrich children’s learning experience and promote quality education for young children.
Media Initiative for Children Respecting Difference Programme
The Media Initiative for Children (MIFC) Respecting Difference Programme is an intervention programme aimed at improving long term outcomes so that children, practitioners/teachers, parents and communities become more aware of diversity and difference issues and positively change attitudes and behaviours to those who are different.
Rural Respecting Difference Programme (RRDP)
Early Years in partnership with the National Childhood Network are jointly implementing the Rural Respecting Difference Programme. Based on the MIFC Respecting Difference programme, RRDP is specfically aimed at rural pre-school, daycare and after-schools settings across Northern Ireland and the six border counties of Ireland.
Sharing From the Start project (SftS)
Supported by the European Union's PEACE IV Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), SftS project involves children in the early years sector throughout Northern Ireland and the border counties taking part in Shared Education programmes improving educational outcomes and good relations.
Children to grow up in a peaceful, prosperous and shared region.
The Media Initiative for Children (MIFC) Respecting Difference
The MIFC (Media Initiative for Children) Respecting Difference Programme is an intervention programme aimed at improving long term outcomes so that children, practitioners/teachers, parents and communities become more aware of diversity and difference issues and positively change attitudes and behaviours to those who are different.
It was developed by Early Years and Pii the Peace Initiatives Institute in the USA and combines cartoon media messages around diversity with an early years programme. Together they aim to promote positive attitudes to physical, social and cultural differences amongst young children, practitioners and parents. The messages also address bullying behaviours.
The messages in the cartoons are reinforced in the early years setting through the use of resources and interactive activities that prompt children to talk about their feelings and attitudes to the issues explored in the cartoons.
The anticipated outcome is that: young children respect those who are different
Originally the programme was developed for children in the pre-school year. However, based on recommendations from rigorous and extensive research the programme is now available to children aged 2-8 years. It aims to make a respecting difference approach an integrated experience for young children within a variety of settings and is based on a meaningful partnership with parents and the wider community.
Register your interest
Interested in implementing the Media Initiative for Children Respecting Difference in your setting or school? Contact our team today.
View the research underpinning the MIFC development
Meet our characters who represent the messages, combined with the pre-school curriculum, to grow a culture of respecting difference
Rural Respecting Difference Programme
Early Years in partnership with the National Childhood Network are jointly implementing the Rural Respecting Difference Programme (RRDP) which is based on the MIFC Respecting Difference Programme. This project is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
RRDP was awarded £1,224,045.08 under the PEACE IV Programme for Building Positive Relations.
The programme is specfically aimed at rural pre-schools, daycares and after-schools settings across Northern Ireland and the six border counties of Ireland, that are not benefiting from any other Shared Education Programme or the Sharing from the Start Programme.
For more information on the PEACE IV Programme and other sources of EU funding please visit www.seupb.eu
RRDP Videos
View the evaluation report Media Initiative for Rural Children Cross-borders: Rural Respecting Difference Programme
Meet our characters who represent the messages, combined with the pre-school curriculum, to grow a culture of respecting difference
View the research underpinning the MIFC development
Newsletters
Respecting Difference
Research shows a need to provide a respecting difference approach to working with children, parents and communities in early years settings.
Research
The programme has been supported by rigorous academic research listed below which supported the development of the MIFC as an evidence-based programme to begin diversity work early with children, and the importance of working with parents, practitioners/teachers and communities.
Too young to notice?
Paul Connolly, Alan Smith and Berni Kelly
The development of the initiative was greatly influenced by research 'Too Young to Notice?' carried out by Professor Paul Connolly from Queen's University, Belfast which showed that by the age of six a significant proportion of children (1 in 6) in Northern Ireland are making sectarian and racial remarks.
A Cluster Randomised Trial Evaluation of the Media Initiative for Children: Respecting Difference Programme
Centre for Effective Education, Queen’s University Belfast
The Centre for Effective Education at Queen’s University Belfast, in collaboration with the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) Northern Ireland and Stranmillis University College, conducted a rigorous and independent evaluation of the MIFC.
The evaluation took the form of a cluster randomized controlled trial, led by the Centre for Effective Education, and indepth qualitative case studies undertaken by the NCB and Stranmillis University College.
This report presents the findings of the cluster randomized trial.
MIFC - The Executive Summary
The CORAL reports on the robust evidence found stating the Media Initiative for Children achieved positive effects regarding children's attitudes and awareness in relation to their:
Socio-emotional development
Cultural awareness
inclusive behaviour
Evaluation of the Media Initiative for Children Respecting Difference Programme in the Education Sector 2015
Dr Katrina Collins
Early Years was awarded £618,843 in funding through PEACE III Measure 2.2. The proposed project aimed to develop a MIFC Respecting Difference Programme within the primary school system in Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland; focusing on children aged between five and eight, to create discernible changes in attitudes, behaviour and awareness of sectarian, racial and ethnic differences among children, their parents, teachers and school’s Board of Governors.
This study was prepared by in advance of the post project evaluation by Dr Katrina Collins, an independent consultant.
Evaluation Report Media Initiative for Rural Children Cross-borders: Rural Respecting Difference Programme
The Rural Respecting Difference programme is the result of a partnership between the Northern Ireland Rural Development Council (RDC), Early Years and the Border Counties Childhood Network (BCCN). It is based on the MIFC Respecting Difference Programme and supported by the European Union’s European Regional Development Fund through the PEACE III Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.
MIFC Messages
Meet the MIFC characters - the six media messages linked to early years practice
The media messages are played on national TV three times per year for three weeks at a time. The cartoons are placed on children’s TV and within some adult programming. The use of television raises awareness about the programme with parents and children and creates a supportive environment within early years settings to implement the Respecting Difference programme. The use of the media also fosters a wider community awareness about the programme.
“When planning, include activities and resources that encourage respect for diversity, including diversity within our society. Examples include talking about cultural and religious festivals, preparing foods from different countries, reading stories or listening to music from different cultures and displaying photographs of cultural traditions.” (DENI, 2006:28)
Message 1 - Tom helps out
Explores physical differences and disability.
Message 2 - Kim Joins In
Explores differences associated with race/ethnicity.
Message 3 - Playing the Same Game
Explores cultural differences associated with sectarianism.
Message 4 - We Can Stop the Bullying
Explores helpful and hurtful behaviours.
Message 5 - Kathleen Makes New Friends
Explores inclusion of children from the Traveller Community.
Message 6 - Bukola Moves to the Countryside
Explores rural living, inclusion, transition, shared education, sporting and community activities.
Kim is Sad
Understanding Children's Feelings and Emotions
Jim is Scared
Understanding Children's Feelings and Emotions
Tom is Happy
Understanding Children's Feelings and Emotions
Jenny gets Angry
Understanding Children's Feelings and Emotions
Contact Us
Please complete the form below to contact our Repecting Difference team
