A City’s good practice towards the elimination of discrimination

Within the framework of the Coalition’s Ten Point Plan of Action, the City of Quilmes has created workshops in primary schools on the issue of ‘respect for different people and their rights’.

Mrs Rosa Maria Erbino is a teacher of the Kindergarten No. 942, located in the neighbourhood of Villa Alcira de Bernal, who started an innovative experience. With twenty pupils of both sexes, aged 4 and 5 years old, she initiated a discussion on different games practiced in other countries, and groups with different cultures in difficult situations (orphans, HIV in Africa, various social strata, children in the midst of wars, etc.). The logo of the campaign was ‘do not discriminate’, which is also a slogan of the brochure published by the Municipality.

The aim of the project is for children to internalise and respect diversity and multiculturalism. The development of the child’s own identity is encouraged, as well as the building of trust and confidence in their abilities to defend their rights and express their thoughts, feelings and emotions. Children are taught to accept democratic approaches that allow them to take ownership of the values and principles needed for life in community, including justice, tolerance and appreciation for gender equality, as well as respect for linguistic, cultural and ethnic difference.

By developing a workshop in primary school on multiculturalism and diversity, the City of Quilmes contributes to the enhancement of the pupils’ ability to respect different people and their rights. Because teachers are close intermediates between the city and the children, cities can partner with teachers in order to set up programmes on the promotion of diversity and tolerance.

City Information
The City of Quilmes is a city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the capital of Quilmes Partido and has a population of 230,810.

Quilmes is a member of the Coalition of Latin American and Caribbean Cities against Racism, Discrimination and Xenophobia.

For more information, please visit: www.quilmes.gov.ar (website in Spanish)

See also: Coalición latinoamericana y Caribeña de Ciudades contra el Racismo, la Discriminación y la Xenofobia [PDF in Spanish]