b"As the face of Ireland haschanged over the last few years, many teachers and schools have felt adrift in addressing how to makechildrenfromotherculturesandcountriesfeel welcomeandincluded.Often,schoolshaveexpressedadesireformoretraininginhowto promote not just tolerance but celebration of thisculturaldiversity.TheIrishTravellerMovement(ITM) created the Yellow Flag Programme out of itsown past experience with prejudice and exclusion inIrishsociety.AsanindigenousminoritygrouppresentinIrelandforcenturies,manyTravellershave been subject to segregation and discriminationwithin Irelands school system. 'As Ireland becamemore diverse, there was an awareness that some ofthe immigrants arriving in Ireland may be experi- Paula Madden, Coordinator of the Yellow Flag Programmeencing some of the same challenges of the Travellercommunity. And this is where the idea for the YellowFlagprogrammewasborn.Andthisiswheretheidea for the Yellow Flag programme was born. Thanks to The Ireland Funds grant we have The Yellow Flag programme provides a proven been able to impact over a thousand children.method of 8 steps that schools adopt and implementin all aspects of school life. It does not simply teachchildrenaboutmulticulturalism,italsotrainsteachers and staff how to engage with parents andlocalcommunitygroupstoensurethatthe programme becomes an action plan in the life of theschool. At the end of the year-long programme, theschool is awarded a yellow flag which is flown abovetheschoolsignifyingtheirachievementand completion of the programme.Todays Ireland is much more diverse and weneedtoencouragethechildrenofIrelandtobeopenminded people who can grow up to work in aglobal community, says Paula Madden, Coordina-tor of the Yellow Flag Programme. While we want toensurethatracismdoesntoccur,wealsowanttoteachschoolshowtorespondtoitwhenitdoes.Childrenshouldfeelaffirmedandsafeintheirschools. Our vision is to see a Yellow Flag flying atevery school in Ireland so that parents and teachersand children know that difference and diversity is apositive thing. connect 2013 | 38"