Children taught 'not to judge' in hate crime play

Caoimhe, 11, from St Anthony's Primary School says "it's always nice to be kind"

Getting children to think about something as heavy as hate crime isn't easy but that's exactly what a group of teenagers from a college in Armagh are doing.

"My family and I didn't move here to steal your jobs, we moved here because it was a safer place for us."

This is just one of a number of messages in a teenage theatre production about hate crime aimed at children in primary school.

It is hoped that the youngsters who watch it will learn and, in turn, educate the adults in their lives.

Nathan, 10, from St Teresa's Primary School says it's important to "try to stop" hatred

Ten-year-old Nathan from St Teresa's Primary School in Lurgan said the play had taught him "not to judge a book by its cover".

"There's a lot of hatred that's been going on in the world," Nathan told BBC News NI, adding that it was important "to try to stop it".

He said "it's terrible" and " shouldn't be happening" to people from different countries who have lost loved ones in wars.

Nathan said hearing adults talk about these issues made him feel "scared".

He said he thought it was important to welcome people from other countries "so people can make friends, and they don't feel scared around people they don't know, and so they have people around them to protect them and keep them safe".

'Be kind'

The play Speak Up was created following a summer of race-related violence across Northern Ireland.

It was put together and performed by students from Southern Regional College in Armagh, who spent a week touring the production around local primary schools.

The play consisted of four scenes exploring various types of hate crime - including racially-motivated, sectarian, religious and disability - referencing statistics, and using music and comedy to tell the stories.

Caoimhe, 11, from St Anthony's Primary School in Craigavon, said she thought it was important to welcome newcomers to Northern Ireland.

"They might have had a lot going on in their lives, they've had to travel and they're leaving things behind," she said.

"And it's always nice to be kind and making sure you're welcoming and being a good friend to them."

'We must help'

Daire, 10, from St Anthony's says his school tries to "look out for all the people who are maybe not the same religion or are from a far away country"

Her classmate Daire, 10, described how his school was a "school of sanctuary", which meant that "we have to look out for all the people who are maybe not the same religion or are from a far away country".

"We must help them in case there are people who do not support them," he added.

"If they're getting bullied that might not support their education."

The play was made in collaboration with Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Policing Community Safety Partnership, with further advice and guidance fed in from the Hate Crime Advocacy Service.

Seventeen-year-old Angie says it's important to raise awareness about hate crime

Latest Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) figures show race-related hate crime at its highest level since records began 20 years ago. It is also significantly more prevalent than sectarianism.

Seventeen-year-old Angie was among those from the Southern Regional College performing arts course who appeared in the play.

She told BBC News NI it was important to raise awareness about hate crime because it has become so common.

"We even have statistics in [the play] to show that it's happening in real time," she said.

Katie, 18, says the play teaches an "important topic"

Her classmate Katie, 18, said the racial violence over the summer had made it particularly important for both children and adults to be educated.

"It's such an important topic. It's not right and it's not okay," she said.

Performing arts course coordinator Teresa McBride hopes the children can "go home and educate their parents" on what they learnt in the play

Performing arts course coordinator Teresa McBride explained that the play had been geared towards primary school children because they were "more accepting".

She said the aim was to teach them that it was okay to be different.

"For some children maybe, their parents and grandparents might not have the same views so we thought if we could educate the children, let them then go home and educate their parents and grandparents," she added.

"It shouldn't matter, the colour of someone's skin, or what their religion is, what they believe in, what they look like. That shouldn't be an issue I don't think in 2025."

'Respect everyone'

Ronan, 11, from St Brendan's Primary School says "respect everyone as you would your friends and people you love"

Eleven-year-old Ronan from St Brendan's Primary School in Craigavon said he would tell his family to "respect everyone as you would your friends and people you love".

Kason, 11, from St Brendan's says he learned a lot about how people from different countries were fleeing wars

His classmate Kason, 11, said he learned a lot about how people from different countries were fleeing wars.

Lana, 10, from St Teresa's says she'll remember the play "forever"

Lana, 10, from St Teresa's said it shouldn't matter where people are from or what their nationality is.

She said of the play: "I think I'll remember it - forever."