The philosophy is simple: "It takes a whole village to raise a child".
This African saying emphasises the importance to a young child of contact with a wide variety of people who can nurture
and influence them as they develop and, in doing so, can ensure that they are able to nurture others.
In today's world, concern for safety and security, and the frequent need for both parents to work, tend to isolate the young
child from their 'village'.
Families may not have close contact with their neighbours or local business owners. Children rarely play in the street or walk to school.
As a result, children may grow up without a sense of community values, which may lead to antisocial behaviour,
such as vandalism and graffiti. These acts are often committed by young people who are unable to empathise with the
distress their actions cause to others. It is in our own interest, to find ways to reverse this trend.
Empathy is basic to positive interaction at home, at school AND in the community. It is the ability to 'step into someone else's shoes'
and see life from their point of view. It used to be learned in a child's early years from the daily contact they had with a wide variety
of people in 'the village'. A child who develops empathy in his early years will understand the effect their behaviour has on others.
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