Pair Help Show Racism The Red Card

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa and Massadio Haidara were on hand to help deliver anti-racism workshops to local youngsters earlier this week.

The French pair, signed in January from Montpellier and Nancy respectively, joined education workers and coaches from Show Racism the Red Card at St. James' Park on Tuesday afternoon for a question and answer session.

They were quizzed by pupils from Stanhope Primary School, in South Tyneside, and Kells Lane Primary School, in Gateshead, along with former professional footballers John Anderson, Olivier Bernard, Gary Bennett, Dean Gordon, Trevor Benjamin and Richard Offiong, who are all involved with the charity.

It was part of a workshop which saw the pupils become journalists for the day, writing an article by researching anti-racism issues, taking notes throughout their workshops - which included stereotyping, what racism is and terminology - and probing the panel with questions.

"It was a fantastic opportunity for the students to be involved in," explained Show Racism the Red Card education worker Laura Pidcock.

"Not only did they attend a packed day of informative and very important workshops but they will also engaged in a task that saw them become responsible, young journalists, really researching the issues of racism before, throughout the event and afterwards."

Lizz Bennett, who is also an education worker for the charity, added: "Their day helped assist them in their journey of preparing to become active citizens in an increasingly multi-cultural society.

"It is important to empower young people to challenge racism by providing them with the right knowledge and the ability to critically think about information they see or hear around them."