On 10th December, we organized a workshop as part of the Soft Skills 4 Democracy project focusing on empathy. The objective of the session was to define empathy in simple and practical terms, help participants recognize empathic behaviours in everyday situations, practice expressing empathy, and reflect on the impact of empathetic attitudes on relationships.
The workshop began with an icebreaker entitled “Shared Story Chain.” Participants stood in a circle and collectively built a story, each person adding one sentence to continue the narrative. This playful exercise encouraged creativity, active listening, and spontaneity, while helping participants ease into the group dynamic.
The next activity then focused on building confidence and a sense of mutual recognition. Each participant briefly introduced themselves, after which the rest of the group offered positive adjectives based on their first impressions of the person. This exercise helped create a supportive environment, foster trust, and highlight the importance of how we perceive and value others.
The main activity was based on a Forum Theatre exercise entitled “Step Into the Scene.” One participant picked a scenario card and acted out a situation involving a need for empathy, such as a person feeling frustrated and exhausted at work, someone who had just received distressing news, or a person struggling to integrate into a group. Another participant was then invited to respond. The roles rotated, allowing several participants to experience both expressing and receiving empathy.
The workshop concluded with a feedback and reflection session. Guiding questions were displayed on the slideshow, inviting participants to reflect individually before sharing their thoughts in an open group discussion. This final moment allowed participants to consider how empathy can be practiced in everyday situations and how empathetic behaviours contribute to healthier and more respectful relationships.
The project SoftSkills4Democracy (Pr. nr. 2024-1-DE04-KA154-YOU-000234648) is funded by the Erasmus+ foundation.
