One Small Step Campaign

The One Small Step Campaign is not one of ours but we think it is fantastic and would like to make you aware of it. It aims to support and encourage the building of a shared future and a shared society in Northern Ireland where all citizens can live, work and socialise together free from the threat of sectarianism or racism.

The campaign works by encouraging individuals and organisations to recognise their own role and responsibilities in creating a shared society and to take necessary steps to help bring it about. The One Small Step Campaign is spearheaded by a committee of leaders from various aspects of society including business, sport, the Public Sector and the Voluntary and Community Sector.

The campaign proposes a set of principles, detailed below, designed to help support the creation of a shared society which individuals and organisations are encouraged to endorse.

  • "I commit to working for the common good and towards a peaceful future that is based on equality and mutual respect.
  • I will take an active role in my daily life to ensure the society I live in is inclusive, peaceful, just and fair.
  • I will personally work towards reconciliation, tolerance, mutual trust and the upholding of human rights for all."

Taking personal steps

  • Read a newspaper from the other side for a day/week
  • Seek opportunities to meet people from the “other side” at a social level
  • Encourage family and friends to look to the future and to bury past hurts
  • Refuse to support, encourage or endorse those who show sectarian attitudes
  • Make sure you do not make offensive remarks about other religions or races
  • Buy a book by an Irish/British poet and read it
  • Watch a Gaelic game on television
  • Watch a cricket game
  • Go on the Internet and search for information material on the orders eg Hibernians/Orange
  • Find out the history and stories behind what certain symbols and religious icons mean
  • Go on the Internet and search for information on political parties other than the one you support
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Taking steps with your children

  • Encourage your children to be friendly with children from the “other side”
  • Encourage your children to take part in cross community activities
  • Consider integrated education for your children
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In the the workplace

  • Be a voice of tolerance and reason in your workplace
  • Display One Small Step Campaign logo and literature at conferences
  • Print an article about The One Small Step Campaign in the in-house magazine
  • Staff to discuss topics of race and/or culture at lunch time/coffee breaks
  • Staff to wear One Small Step badges
  • Organise an annual One Small Step Day
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In the Community

  • Join a community group and promote cross community activities
  • Promote good relations with the “other side” within existing community groups
  • Refuse to take part in sectarian groups or activities
  • Speak out against sectarian slogans and graffiti in your neighbourhood
  • Attend a harvest festival service
  • Talk to a member of the Orders from your own tradition and see if you can understand what they are or what they believe
  • Get a partner or two people and arrange to discuss own beliefs and how they differ from “the other”
  • Read a book or paper from the other tradition and discuss perceptions
  • Use a church year to look at how traditions differ in celebrations eg Harvest, Easter etc
  • Organise a night of cultural activities or cultural theme nights
  • Organise a mixed five a side football match

For more information

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