INVESTING IN OUR SHARED FUTURE THE 8 TH CONFERENCE ON THE EVALUATION OF EU COHESION POLICY METHODOLOGY USED AND DATA SOURCES The evaluation intended to provide a comprehensive and thorough documentation of project outcomes for implementation of the Children Respecting Difference Programme in the education sector. By engaging stakeholders using active participatory evaluation tools, a rich perspective of involvement in the programme was established. MAIN FINDINGS Participation of 30 primary schools (21 from Northern Ireland and 9 from Ireland) in new educational programme; 1,000 between five to eight year old children involved; participation of 1,000 parents in workshops; 120 teachers trained to implement the programme; 90 sessions held for Board of Governors throughout the project lifetime; and an influence on the educational system in Northern Ireland and Ireland on new curriculum for a divided society. CONCLUSIONS, LESSONS LEARNED AND FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS • Positive change in behaviour and attitude of children towards inclusion and exclusion; • improved relationships between parents across community divisions; • increased confidence and skills of teachers; • schools better equipped to deliver primary education in a manner that contributes to a shared society. The evaluation recommended that the programme be brought to scale in Northern Ireland and Ireland – taking into consideration older primary aged children; sub-cover for participating teachers; and geographical location when matching schools for liaison activities. PROBLEM SETTING, MAIN EVALUATION QUESTIONS The proposed project aimed to develop a Children Respecting Difference Programme within the primary school system in Northern Ireland and the Border Counties of Ireland; focusing on children aged between 5 and 8, to create discernible changes in attitudes, behaviour and awareness of sectarian, racial and ethnic differences among children, their parents, teachers and school’s Board of Governors. FUND(S) COVERED • European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) PROGRAMMING PERIOD • 2007-2013 PROGRAMME(S) COVERED • PEACE Programme – Interreg Northern Ireland/Ireland THEMATIC OBJECTIVE(S) • TO11: Institutional capacity TYPE OF EVALUATION • Impact and process YEAR OF COMPLETION • 2015 AUTHOR(S) OF THE EVALUATION CONTACT PERSON Dr Katrina Collins (consultancy services) John McCandless [email protected] Post Project Evaluation of the Children Respecting Difference Programme • • Early Years