Larisa Mirza focuses on guiding students to embrace empathy by fostering a compassionate and inclusive community through meaningful projects and active engagement.
It is impossible to exaggerate the significance of empathy in educational settings since it is necessary for the development of communities that are both healthy and supportive. To cultivate a learning atmosphere that is friendly and kind, it is essential to possess the capacity to empathise with and grasp the experiences of other people. Heritage International School fosters an atmosphere of compassion and understanding by instructing its pupils in the following: active listening, emotional intelligence, open communication, mutual support, and empathy.
The Importance of Empathy in Educational Settings
"To empathise is to understand and value another person's emotions and perspectives by putting oneself in their position."
To empathise is to understand and value another person's emotions and perspectives by putting oneself in their position. This ability is crucial for students to effectively communicate with others and form meaningful connections.
Empathy requests us to actively listen to people without passing judgement on what they have to say. It is necessary to pay attention to what other people are saying, to comprehend the feelings that they are experiencing, and to answer with thoughtfulness. Through active listening, children can build trust in one another and enhance their relationships.
A crucial component of empathy is the ability to identify and control one's own feelings and emotions. When students have a greater knowledge of their own emotions, they are better able to connect to and help their classmates.
To foster openness, it is essential to provide children with an atmosphere of safety in which they may freely express their views and emotions. Fostering an environment that encourages transparency helps young people feel appreciated and understood, which in turn promotes a feeling of belonging.
The act of providing support is another component of Empathy, which entails aiding others who are vulnerable. Small acts of kindness may have a huge influence on a school community. These actions might take the form of a kind word, a helping hand, or just being there for someone at a difficult time.
The Official Empathy Week School Badge was awarded to our institution in February of 2024, marking our school's entry into a worldwide network that encompasses fifty nations. Activities that were meant to build empathy and emphasise the transforming power of compassion and understanding were carried out by participants during this event that lasted for a week.
Heritage International School's Approach to Fostering Empathy in Students
One of the most remarkable contributions was made by the children in the sixth E grade, guided by their Homeroom Teacher - Larisa Mîrza, who designed and produced a video that emphasised the principles that our Heritage Community upholds. The video referenced Harper Lee's advice from "To Kill a Mockingbird": "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
This quotation emphasised the value of having empathy for people, understanding them, and respecting them completely.
Creating Empathy In Future Generations
The sixth graders' participation in Empathy Week reflected the school's commitment to helping its pupils become more compassionate people. In their video, available on the Heritage Moldova Instagram, they demonstrated how respect and understanding can build empathy. Through their effort, they brought attention to the need of building an inclusive atmosphere in which all members are made to feel welcomed and encouraged, as well as the necessity of viewing the world from the viewpoints of others.
The Impact of Literary Fiction on Empathy
Scientific evidence backs up the claim that enthusiastic readers are generally better at comprehending the emotions of others.
Scientific evidence backs up the claim that enthusiastic readers are generally better at comprehending the emotions of others. Reading fiction challenges you to envision the thoughts and emotions of the characters, which helps you develop empathy. The more you read, the better you'll become at instinctively understanding what people are thinking or feeling in real-world circumstances. This skill not only helps you make friends, but it also improves your ability to engage politely with people.
Reading changes your view on others and yourself. Each book enables you to see the world through the eyes of someone else, giving you a one-of-a-kind ability that may be used in real life. If a buddy does not show interest in participating in the game that you have proposed, for instance, rather than getting angry, you may think about how you would feel if you were in their position. The ability to think with empathy promotes the resolution of disagreements and the strengthening of friendships.
An Empathy Bench to Honour and Celebrate Empathy
To mark the end of the academic year, 6E students chose to formally unveil the Empathy Bench on the final day of school. With the generous donations of their parents, the graduating class of 2024 from 6E was able to leave behind this spectacular addition as a legacy. The Empathy Bench reflects the Heritage Community's passion towards humanity, empathy, and compassion. For students, it's a place to make new friends or simply take a moment to reflect.
Final Thoughts
A school where learners can empathise with one another fosters an environment that is rich with tolerance, compassion, and understanding. The devotion of our teachers to cultivating empathy via reading, the active participation in Empathy Week, and the building of the Empathy Bench are all examples of our commitment to the development of empathic individuals. Our society is developing a new Empathy Generation of caring global citizens by encouraging children to consider issues from many points of view.
How can we further incorporate empathy into our daily interactions to ensure that the next generation is brought up in a world that is founded on compassion and understanding?
- - - - - - - -
To share your story, thoughts or ideas with the ISN community, please send your article draft directly to our editorial team here, or email us at [email protected]