A Co Antrim woman is working to 'make Northern Ireland a safer space for all'.
Mum-of-one Amelia Kai who is autistic, is opening discussion about diversity and inclusivity across the country.
Amelia, who is originally from South East London, facilitates workshops for teenagers and small business to make spaces of education and work safer for everyone. She believes instances of prejudice are a result of a lack of cultural understanding.
Her workshops cover numerous topics of prejudice including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, xenophobia and sectarianism.
Amelia has just created a free book along with illustrator Jamie Beard called 'The Little Green Crayon' with the hope of helping young people understand their identity.
She told Belfast Live : "The book teaches young people, 'you can be you, and you deserve to be you'.
"It applies to everyone, I've had people tell me it's helped transgender kids too. You should celebrate who you are, explore yourself and accept yourself.
"I am mixed-race and my son is mixed-race so this is pretty much for him.
"I came up with the concept for The Little Green Crayon when I was having my autism assessment at the age of 21. They gave me some objects and asked me to make a story out of them - so I went on the basis of colour.
"The book can be relevant in Northern Ireland especially - it could be having a Catholic mother and a Protestant father but wanting to be someone of your own.
"In the wake of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement, marginalised people feel more open to talking about our experiences.
"My main goal is accessibility so the book is free for everyone. The response we have received has been amazing - I never imagined it.
"This is not important in NI, it is essential. We have spent so long focusing on sectarianism - we have found ourselves in 2020 realising we have a prejudice problem that goes far beyond being Protestant or Catholic.
"There is an ignorance here and that isn't always based on malice or hatred - people do want to learn."
People can ask questions and learn at Amelia's workshops, through this creating a safer space.
Amelia added: "I don't think we are ever going to completely stop prejudice but I do think there are a lot of times when there are instances of prejudice and schools don't know where to turn.
"There have been multiple incidents with my little brother in his school when he has faced anti-blackness and they haven't known what to do. This is where my idea stemmed from.
"There are different approaches to talking social prejudice. I have chose to do it with love and patience. I believe I can make the most change in NI this way.
"Pre-school social justice is so important. You need to start at the start to get to the finish. I am autistic and I am a black woman - my own identity is important to me."
To download The Little Green Crayon for free, click here.
