The integration of migrant children in school "opens the mind and improves the multicultural skills of the children of the society that welcomes them", said at the University of Navarra the psychologist framework Gemignani, from Duquesne University (USA). The expert participated in a workshop of the project 'Investigating and promote Education of character in secondary schools in Latin America', jointly developed by the School of Education and Psychology and the Institute for Culture and Societyand funded by the World Templeton Charity Foundation.

Professor Gemignani stated that in order to deal with multiculturalism it is necessary to think of "tailor-made solutions" for each case and that "it is not only necessary to think of the solution that can be implemented in the school, but also in the community". For example, she pointed out that "there are circumstances in which migrant children can feel emotionally secure and can develop their language skills more naturally and quickly. These activities, in addition to stimulating them in language, also promote their sense of belonging, cultural identity and academic skills in general".

In this sense, he argued that, precisely, the first step to integrate migrant children "is to create an emotionally safe environment in schools, so that they are not places where children are stressed because they are discriminated against, because they do not understand, because their performance is low... It is about creating opportunities to generate confidence". 

Education of character: the case for gender equality

framework Gemignani advocated a vision of the educator that focuses not only on the transmission of information, but on the promotion of Education character, paying special attention to "the way in which values are internalized and put into internship".

As an example, she mentioned gender equality, topic which she has dealt with extensively in her work with immigrant women, mostly undocumented, in the U.S. "When we talked about the possibility of returning to their country," she said, "one of the most frequent reflections was the question of returning to a society that discriminates against women, after having spent years in the U.S., where respect for them is a value core topic".

"That learning about equality - for example, that it is possible to stand up against gender-based violence - puts home country in a new light. So these women are faced with a dilemma: whether they should stay and enjoy that security or go back to where they came from to change things," she continued. "The reflection not only affects what one can do staff, but as a member of society."

Following the case of gender discrimination, he mentioned that in the Education of character "teaching respect should not only be a matter of promote specific values in the boy -respecting his female colleagues-. It also requires an analysis of the social dimensions present in gender stereotypes. In this way, children tend to see that the problem also belongs to the family, to institutions, to discourses, to the educational or political system...".

Professor framework Gemignani was one of the experts from centers of excellence in character Education from the U.S., U.K., Spain and Switzerland who participated in the workshop of the School of Education and Psychology and the Institute for Culture and Society of the University of Navarra.