PUPILS for three Eden Valley primary schools are taking part in a nationwide project that looks at racism, writes KAREN MORLEY.

The Heartstone Project, which will see them take their work and thoughts out to other organisations within their own community as well as being part of a county-wide exhibition at Rheged later in the year, encourages youngsters to look at how their behaviour and actions affect other people and how changes in attitude can lead to a greater understanding and make a better world.

Alex Chalmers, of Volunteer Bureau Eden, said: "Volunteer Bureau is one of ten partners working on the project in Cumbria. All ten received resources from the Children's Fund. VB is sharing resources and working with three local schools, Kirkby Stephen Primary, Appleby Primary and Orton Primary.

"The Heartstone Project is a flexible, well resourced project that can be run alongside curricular work. There are clear links to most subjects covered in the National Curriculum. This project introduces children to difficult issues such as racism and intolerance in our society.

"It is a good way to help children consider good and bad behaviour/right and wrong - look at the actions of perpetrators and explore the reasons behind their actions. This deeper probing helps to lead to long term change in attitudes and behaviour and also leads to a greater understanding of historical changes.

"The Heartstone Charter is a simple way of turning ideas about right and wrong and an ideal world' into a solid document to which children can then relate."

The Project has four elements: Chandra's India Story, Chandra's London Story, the Kosova Stories and the Coral Reef Stories.

The Chandra's India Story provides a CD-Rom that can be used alongside the Heartstone Odyssey or used alone as part of a project on India. While the London Story provides both beautiful and ugly images of the city. The central theme that runs both in CD and in book is graffiti.

The Kosovo Stories is from the work of the peace-keeping forces in Kosova during 2000 and features stories with themes of conflict and ethnic hatred. They also give an insight into why people may flee their homeland to become refugees.

The Coral Reef Stories look at the marine environment, a classic example of out of sight, out of mind'. Many people feel that because they don't live near the sea it doesn't affect them. Stories of intolerant behaviour, for example the Puffa Fish, provides particularly younger pupils with a route of discussion and debate on intolerant actions and attitudes such as bullying The project got off to a flying start at Kirkby Stephen Primary where Year Six pupils designed and made their own felt-hanging with local artist Debbie Lucas . The theme of the work was six countries the UK to represent themselves and five other international communities the school has links with, including Russia, Italy, Holland and India. Younger pupils also worked on their own Heartstone Charter, looking at issues and ways of making the world a better. Place. They will be taking their feltwork and charter to other groups, including the Mothers' Union and Age Concern in Kirkby Stephen.