Super Heroes To Defend Children

Six new super heroes have been recruited by the Stormont Executive to promote and defend the rights of children – Herbie Healthy, Sophie Safe, Archie Achiever, Emer the Eco Girl, Donna Does-A-Lot and Rory Rights.

The super heroes are featuring in the new Super Six comic launched in Belfast by junior ministers Gerry Kelly and Ian Paisley Junior to let children understand how the power sharing government is promoting their interests.

Mr Kelly explained the comic, which was launched at the Belfast headquarters of the play agency PlayBoard, was designed to show children how their welfare was a key priority of the executive. “We want them to know we value them, we are listening to them and we are doing all we can to improve not only their quality of life but their life experiences,” the Sinn Fein junior minister said.

“The comic and its super heroes is an excellent way of engaging with primary school-aged children and to let them know how government is working for them.”

The six characters have been named by local children and are based on the six themes identified in the 10-year strategy for children and young people in the province launched last year. They represent health, learning, achievement and enjoyment, contributing positively to society and community, safety, economic and environmental well-being and respect for the rights of children and young people.

Storyteller and children`s author Liz Weir was recruited to work with Northern Ireland schoolchildren in translating the strategy into a comic. “Our desire is to give our children the best possible start in life,” the DUP`s Ian Paisley Junior explained.

“To help them reach their full potential by growing into confident and capable young people who make a positive contribution to our society. We believe children will relate well to the comic and its super hero characters. It`s not always easy explaining these issues to younger children but I believe the comic will succeed in getting the messages across in a fun way.

The comic will be distributed to every primary school-aged child in Northern Ireland, with some copies translated into Irish for children educated in the language.