“Connect, and stay connected with young people who cause hurt.”
– New approach aims to make real and lasting change in youth settings –
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Racism, Sexism, Homophobia, Transphobia, Disablism and Faith-Based Hate will not be changed by taking a punitive approach, that’s according to the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) at the launch of a new manual Transforming Hate in Youth Settings in the Communications Workers’ Union, Dublin today (30.04.19). The NYCI – which represents organisations working with over 380,000 young people – says this new tool, based on personal experiences of discrimination, outlines innovative approaches on how to transform hate in youth work settings over the long term.
Speaking at the launch, Anne Walsh from NYCI’s Equality and Intercultural programme said: “Uniquely in this project, the trainers bring not just professional youth worker expertise, but also their personal experiences of identity-based discrimination. We start from the point of view that hate and discrimination will not be changed by taking a punitive approach, and that being able to connect, and stay connected with young people who may cause hurt is an important part of making real and lasting change.”
“Working together with our Irish team of youth workers and our international partners Peace Institute (Finland), Ljubljana Pride (Slovenia), Interfaith Scotland (UK) and Hamoment (Portugal) has also brought new insights applicable in an Irish context.”
Personal experience of discrimination
Also speaking at the launch, Danni McKenna, a youth worker from Rialto Youth Project who was a participant on the project said:
“Discrimination is still a live issue in Ireland. Personally I have heard hateful language in our youth project and we need to have effective ways to tackle this. I think it is so important that those who have contributed to this Manual have experienced hate themselves first hand and this has helped inform the way they contributed to this manual. I believe this gives it an authenticity that users will really appreciate.”
Youth workers at the event will hear about some of the key approaches in the new manual including:
- How to connect, and stay connected with young people who use hate speech
- Taking a needs-based approach to bring about transformation
- Understanding the systems of oppression that condone and replicate hate
The training Tackling and Transforming Hate in Youth Settings will now be rolled out nationwide and further information is available on www.intercultural.ie
ENDS
Daniel Meister, Communications Manager at NYCI on 087 781 4903, 01-478 4122 or e-mail communications@nyci.ie
National Youth Council of Ireland
NYCI is a membership-led umbrella organisation that represents and supports the interests of voluntary youth organisations and uses its collective experience to act on issues that impact on young people.
www.youth.ie