Problems a young person from a different country may experience in Northern Ireland

At a very young age most children are accepting of the differences between each other.  They are genuinely interested in learning and asking questions about these differences and accept these differences as part of who they are.  However, listening to adults, watching T.V. shows or hearing the news can make children become less and less accepting of others who are different from them.  Any knowledge and understanding they may have gained as a small child becomes lost and forgotten as they grow older and they can become fearful of someone else's culture that is unlike their own. 

When a young person moves from another country to Northern Ireland, this can be difficult for the young person, for a variety of reasons.

The young person may experience loneliness

They may have difficulty making new friends because they feel that they are different and will not have much in common with other young people in Northern Ireland.

The young person may experience language barriers

They may have difficulty communicating with people in Northern Ireland because they do not have a good understanding of the English language and few people in Northern Ireland speak a language other than English.

The young person may experience discrimination

They may face prejudice and discrimination because people can be ignorant and lacking in knowledge and understanding about someone who is different to them.

The young person may not settle in school/college 

They may have difficulty 'fitting in' in a new school/college because friendship groups are already established or there may be a language barrier that make trying to communicate with others and make friends difficult.

The young person may have different customs/traditions

It takes time learning to live in a new community and culture so the young person may find learning about the culture of the people in Northern Ireland difficult because they are not aware of particular customs and practices.

 

The role your community could have to combat sectarianism/racism

Youth clubs - bring young people in a community together. The youth club could

organise events to help young people meet and become friends with people from
another religious/ethnic minority group.

Schools - can teach pupils in lessons about the causes and consequences of
sectarianism/racism. They can provide opportunities for young people to mix with young
people from other schools to learn to work together, learn about each other and
encourage inclusion. This could reduce community tensions and reduce
sectarianism/racism.

Celebrations/Festivals - can be organised by the local council to help raise
awareness and promote tolerance and understanding of different religious practices and cultural diversity.

Cross Community Groups - can be made up of a variety of people from different
ethnic or religious backgrounds. They could meet regularly to discuss problems or
issues that may be happening in the community and try to come up with actions that
could resolve some of the conflict in the community.

Report crimes to the Police - people within the community need to take responsibility
and report if sectarianism or racism has taken place in the community or has been
witnessed. The police should have a role and adapt strategies to help combat
sectarianism/racism in the community.

The media - can be used to report on and highlight the positive aspects of the

community and not focus their reports on sectarian or racist events.

Causes of Prejudice and Discrimination

1. Ignorance - often people's knowledge and understanding of another group of people is based on stereotypical ideas and beliefs. They usually do not know enough about the person or group of people and so feel threatened. There is a lack of understanding and ignorance about a culture or cultural practises and this can lead to conflict.
   

   
2. Experience - a young person may have had a ‘bad’ experience of others who identify with a certain group of people. The young person may develop negative, stereotypical views about everyone of this religion or race and hence become prejudiced.

   

   
   
3. The media - sometimes the media can present a negative image of people with different cultures or religion or race and this can influence people's perception of that group.

   

   
   
4. Friends/peers - friends may hold negative, stereotypical views about other cultures and identities which could cause a young person to accept these views as a way of trying to remain as part of a friendship group.

   

   
   
5. Family members - Parents and other family members may hold strong, negative views about people of different cultures and identities. A young person may accept these views are right and may begin to develop the same attitudes and beliefs.

   

   
   

10 ways people express their cultural identity

1. Dance - some cultures have a traditional dance that many in that culture learn and demonstrate at events as an expression of their cultural identity.
   

   

   
   

2. Music - Many cultures have their own style of music that is particular to that culture. They use musical instruments associated with that culture and they use music as an expression of their cultural identity.
   

   

3. Language - people from different cultural backgrounds may use language and the way they communicate with others as a way of expressing their cultural identity.
   

   

    

4. Dress/Clothes - some cultures have a traditional dress. Sometimes this traditional dress is worn everyday or sometimes it is worn on special occasions, depending on the culture. People can express their cultural identity by wearing their traditional dress.
   

   

5. Diet  - some cultures have a traditional cuisine. People express their cultural identity by preparing food in a particular way or by refusing to eat certain foods or by eating foods on a given day of the week or at a special occasion.
   

   

6. Religion - many cultures have religious beliefs and practices that are particular to the culture. People express their cultural identity by participating in their religious practices and customs.
   

   

7. Celebrations/festivals - many cultures have celebrations or festivals that are specifically associated with that culture. Through these festivals or celebrations, people express their cultural identity as their traditional music will be playing, people will be dressed in traditional dress and they will be dancing their traditional dance.
   

   

8. Symbols/murals - people can express their cultural identity by wearing badges or embracing symbols that are associated with that culture.
   

   

9. Sport - some cultures enjoy sports that are associated with that culture. People can express their cultural identity by participating in particular sports.
   

   

10. Flags - Some cultures will identify with a particular flag. This may be a flag of a country or state. People express their cultural identity by flying or supporting the flag associated with their culture.
    

    

    
    

The Benefits of Tolerance and Living in a Multicultural Country

 

 

1. An enriched experience. People from different cultures have their own food/diet, sports, language, dress and/or music. This brings opportunities of experiencing something different and sometimes even something new within a community.

   

    
2. Make new friends. Meeting others from different cultures can help people in society learn about each other, better understand each other and build trust and friendships with each other.

   

   
   
3. Creates good community relations. Showing respect and demonstrating tolerance towards others who have different cultures and sometimes different views to you, encourages respect and tolerance. This allows cultural diversity to be embraced in society and contributes to good relations within a community.

   

    
4. Enhances community spirit. In a community where it’s members show respect and tolerance to each other - no matter what their culture is - allows for a greater sense of togetherness and community spirit.

    
5. Promotes peace. When respect towards others is encouraged and demonstrated, there is mutual understanding that exists between people of differing cultures.  Therefore they are less likely to be aggressive and are more likely to resolve issues through dialogue.

   

   
   
6. Reduces tension. When people are accepting and tolerant of others’ views and cultures, there is trust and respect between them. This reduces suspicion and tension between different groups of people.