"There is always much more to people than we can see. Beautiful things happen when we produce empathy".
As we are organising the EFRJ Seminar in Athens on the potential of restorative justice for migrant children, we are are returning to books, films, pictures, and other resources that inspired us in the context of children. On of these is definitely Wally and Freya, a beautifully illustrated book that introduces principles of restorative justice to children. Written by Lindsay Pointer and brought to life by Stella Mongodi’s illustrations, this touching story resonate not only with young readers but also with adults. The book was presented by the author in a webinar organised by the EFRJ in 2022 (watch here the videorecording).
The story that explores a conflictual relationship with the other: someone different, someone excluded, such as a child with experience of migration within and across borders. Through the lens of restorative justice, beautifully conveyed in this story, we are guided towards a deeper sense of belonging, one that goes beyond simply stepping into the other's shoes. Instead, it embraces inclusion as envisioned by restorative justice: a space in which both individuals are fully recognised and valued exactly because of each others differences.
In this way, a child's story can reveal many valuable concepts, such as radical respect, which represents a way of working that honours the humanity of each individual. This will be one of the concepts examined in detail during the last plenary of 13th International EFRJ Seminar by Rachel Quine.
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