Process drama as a tool for developing children’s empathy and reducing prejudice toward refugees in Ireland

Abstract

[eng] Now more than ever, children are subject to negative attitudes and misinformation about refugees in the media and at home. Refugees in Ireland are being increasingly subjected to violence and hostility. Upwards of 20,000 people, approximately 20% of whom are children, live in unfit accommodation centres for extended periods, causing significant impacts on their physical and mental health. With anti-immigrant violence on the rise, primary school teachers are in a prime position to abate this unkindness and ignorance through the next generation. This paper proposes a drama-based intervention to increase students’ empathy towards this vulnerable group. The intervention includes widely researched and practised drama strategies to bring students closer to the adversity experienced by refugees in Ireland while remaining psychologically safe. In this proposed study, the sample includes 28 schools across Dublin with a range of ethos. It is proposed that teachers will complete the intervention with support, training and supervision over eight weeks. Implementing this intervention is expected to increase students’ empathy towards refugees and reduce prejudice, feelings of intergroup anxiety and their perceived threat.

[gle] Anois níos mó ná riamh, tá leanaí faoi réir dearcadh diúltach agus faisnéis mhícheart faoi dhídeanaithe sna meáin agus sa bhaile. Tá níos mó foréigean agus naimhdeas ag teacht ar dhídeanaithe in Éirinn. Cónaíonn os cionn 20,000 duine, ar leanaí iad thart ar 20% díobh, in ionaid chóiríochta neamh-oiriúnach ar feadh tréimhsí fada, rud a chuireann isteach go mór ar a sláinte fhisiciúil agus mheabhrach. Agus foréigean frith-inimirceach ag dul i méid, tá múinteoirí bunscoile in inmhe an mí-chineálta agus an aineolas seo a mhaolú tríd an gcéad ghlúin eile. Molann an páipéar seo idirghabháil drámaíochta chun ionbhá na mac léinn i leith an ghrúpa leochaileach seo a mhéadú. Áiríonn an idirghabháil straitéisí drámaíochta a bhfuil taighde forleathan déanta orthu agus a bhfuil cleachtadh déanta orthu chun mic léinn a thabhairt níos gaire don achrann a bhíonn ag teifigh in Éirinn agus iad ag fanacht sábháilte go síceolaíoch. Sa staidéar molta seo, cuimsíonn an sampla 28 scoil ar fud Bhaile Átha Cliath a bhfuil raon éitis acu. Tá sé beartaithe go gcríochnóidh múinteoirí an idirghabháil le tacaíocht, oiliúint agus maoirseacht thar ocht seachtaine. Táthar ag súil go méadóidh cur i bhfeidhm na hidirghabhála seo comhbhá na mac léinn i leith teifigh agus go laghdóidh sé réamhchlaonadh, mothúcháin imní idirghrúpa agus bagairt a bhraitear.