Social Inclusion Research

We capitalise on insight from Judaic sources and group psychology to inform us how to better insure inclusion for all children in both formal and informal settings. We develop and study interventions which integrate Jewish values with academic and professional expertise in order to create awareness and affect change on bullying and exclusion.

Our take on Social Inclusion

Our action research project explores how social exclusion among children and youth is often not premeditated. Such exclusion is passive and inadvertent and would not be classified as bullying but is nonetheless a painful and damaging experience. We are therefore studying how raising awareness and consciousness among children and young people can help to make groups more inclusive. 

During the course of this project, we have conducted multiple fun and interactive workshops, in the UK and USA, for children of all ages and their parents and teachers. Children and adults are presented with various age appropriate activities that heighten their awareness leaving them more sensitised. For example, in organising and observing an ordinary game of tag, intuitive facilitators would notice those children on the periphery and would discuss the ramifications of this neglect with members of the group. Participants are asked questions like, “did you mean to exclude so and so” or “did you notice that so and so did not join in your ball game?” or “can we brainstorm various ways of ensuring that all members of our group feel included?

This action research project is being conducted within a framework of group dynamics, showing how the positive and negative aspects of groups need to be understood by its members and leaders. Core aspects of this work are inspired by Judaic literature, as can be seen here.

Application of this knowledge to school and informal settings will ensure that the social and emotional needs of children to belong and be included are being met.

Click here to download our document on Bullying and
Social Exclusion

Project Managed by
Rivkie Ives
e: Rivkie@TagInstitute.org

Latest News

In January 2012 we went to the US to complete a number of workshops for 2 different senior schools. The workshops were very well received and feedback was very positive.

Workshops for trainee teachers have just been completed in a teaching seminary. The group was fascinated by the awareness they reached. They were especially cooperative and appreciated text based learning in addition to interactive activities.

Parent workshops were run in a synagogue in Surbiton. Participants felt that the workshop was valuable and informative. Using this forum to discuss bullying and exclusion issues that their children were facing, was very positively received.

Workshops for 180 youth leaders in NY in June 2012. The workshops were interactive, text based and experiential. It created awareness of the dynamics of a group and showed leaders how they can create an inclusive and productive groups. This was ACA accedited as of May 2012.

Trainee Youth Leaders in London. Workshops were run in bullying and social exclusion for trainee youth leaders in London, July 2012

Primary School teachers. We will be training the staff of Bnos Bais Yaakov Primary School, Kingsbury, London to become more aware of the social dynamics amongst their students to enable them to create an inclusive environment for all members.

Have you been to our workshop? Would you like to leave a comment?