Challenging Racism, Prejudice and Intolerance

- a Mission for Change

Heartstone exists to increase understanding between young people aged 8-18 of all classes, creeds and colours and encourages them to examine and express their hopes, fears and expectations for the world today and tomorrow.

Heartstone believes that it is possible to build understanding and respect between young people, across nationalities, gender and cultures, so enabling them to challenge prejudice and intolerance.

Heartstone has set itself an enormous challenge - the aim is no less than to enable children build a better world across social divisions. But young people are the future of the world - so is there a better place to put our energy?

How Heartstone Works

Heartstone listens to children and hears their concerns and then responds by produce a range of story resources which help them discuss, debate and understand topical and social issues. These resources which are used in Heartstone Project groups, include 'The Heartstone Odyssey' (the book which started the whole Heartstone movement) and which forms the main source of discussion by younger children, and photographs and features in the form of Heartstone Story Modules on a wide range of issues for older children and young people.

Heartstone's national office helps community organisations, youth bodies, schools and interested individuals to set up Heartstone Projects. The approach of the Projects can be adapted to reflect regional differences and urban or rural concerns.

* Approach One Challenging racial abuse and xenophobia

* Approach Two Human co-operation and awareness of the

environment and endangered species

Heartstone generally aims to develop a number of Projects in an area by building relationships with community organisations and statutory bodies who will then co-ordinate Heartstone Projects in their area.

Through these organisations, Heartstone presenters are recruited locally who are sent to Heartstone's Scottish Highland base to take part in training courses designed to equip them with resources, workshop input and background on how to set up and manage projects in their own areas.

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