Press Release

Mayor launches Equality and Good Relations for schools

Tuesday, 16 November 2004

The Mayor Councillor Gearoid O’hEara launched the Mayor’s Initiative on Equality and Good Relations for Post Primary Schools at the Guildhall on Monday 15 November.

The initiative is aimed at encouraging post primary schools across the city to work towards the elimination of discrimination and promoting good relations between people of different racial groups.

Announcing details of the initiative, the Mayor said he intended working closely with post-primary schools in the Council area by providing workshops that will support teachers in helping young people to explore community relations issues. The project is being delivered with the help of the Junction and Children In Crossfire.

The Mayor explained: “This initiative is extremely important to me. At the start of my year in office, I explained that I was fully committed to represent all the people of the city and would work to create a city of equals within an Ireland of equals. I feel that this project is a step forward towards reaching that goal and I am delighted that the Junction and Children In Crossfire are assisting me in delivering the initiative and encouraging schools from across the city to participate,” he said

“I have set up a series of meetings with a wide cross section of groups and individuals working in the community to explore issues of importance to them and how I can respond in a constructive way to those issues during my term in office. I am very impressed and pleased with the response I have received to date and believe that through the series of workshops, our post primary school pupils can explore a range of topics as part of their curriculum and as part of their own personal and social development.

It is anticipated that the participating schools from across the city will participate in a series of workshops to explore a range of topics on equality and good relations. The schools will initially work separately and come together over two cluster days to explore emerging themes and issues arising from the workshops. As part of the programme, the participating schools will draw up their own charter on equality and good relations.

Maureen Hetherington, of the Junction said she was delighted to be associated with the project. “This type of initiative is crucial in order to give support to teachers to deliver aspects of their curriculum and in holistically encouraging the personal and social development of the young people whilst still at school. Attitudinal change towards ‘the other’ can only come about through knowledge and understanding and the Mayor’s Initiative should go some way in doing that.”

Ends

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