EmpathyLab 2019


In 2015 a new organisation called EmpathyLab sprung into life, drawing attention to the scientific evidence that reading builds real- life empathy skills. Since then, it has developed practical programmes to help schools, libraries and families harness the power of stories to increase children’s understanding and practice of empathy. Books for Keeps has followed its progress with interest. Here, EmpathyLab’s founder, Miranda McKearney, looks ahead to Empathy Day, and reports on a powerful refugee project with the Scouts.


Get ready for Empathy Day, 11 June


In our divided world, empathy is a beacon of hope. We founded Empathy Day to be a lightning rod for a new national conversation about the power of books to build empathy, and the power of empathy to build a better world. This year it’s on 11 June.


Empathy Day is the day to step out of our bubble and make new connections with each other. And to celebrate a dynamic new wave of empathy work in our schools and libraries. The calls to action are Read: because stories and book characters build our real-life empathy; Connect: make new connections with people, inspired by sharing stories; Do: put empathy into action, in your home and your community.


If you only have a minute, these are our recommended actions


• Tweet about #EmpathyDay to swell the national empathy conversation


• Share how a book character made you feel in the huge #ReadForEmpathy campaign


• Use our Read For Empathy Guides to choose a book for a young person (www.empathylab.uk)


• Save our Read Connect Do suggestions for another day – Empathy Day can be any day!


If you feel inspired to get more involved and want to access the wide range of Empathy Day resources subscribe to updates on www.empathylab.uk


A new refugee project


One of Empathy Day’s functions is to act as a focal point for on-going work to build children’s empathetic understanding. An example is a powerful refugee project EmpathyLab has been working on with the Scouts, the illustrator Jane Ray, and Year 5 children from Kenilworth Primary School in Borehamwood. It has led to a new generation of children developing empathy skills and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by displaced people.


READ It builds real-life empathy


Find and share empathy- boosting books – use #ReadforEmpathy


Use our Read for Empathy Guides for young people http://www.empathylab,uk/ read-for-empathy-guide


Check out your library’s empathy books and activities


Follow the special


author blog tour; listen to their podcasts


CONNECT


Join the Empathy conversation


Snap up tickets for


The Empathy Conversation Waterstones Piccadilly, 7pm


Use #EmpathyDay to share which social issues need more empathy


Meet someone different in libraries’ Empathy Conversation events


Make a giant workplace


Empathy Wall – share ideas for changing things


DO Put Empathy into action Make an


Empathy Resolution – special cards available in March


Teachers: sign up;


use our training, booklists, Empathy Day packs


Librarians: sign up; pilot Empathy Conversation events


Buy a whole empathy book collection for 26% off: www.peters.co.uk/ empathy2019


Called Moving Connections, the project has helped children deepen their understanding of refugees’ experiences. It was initiated by the Scouts’ Heritage Service, drawing on the organisation’s proud history of supporting displaced people. In the First World War Scouts helped Belgian refugees arriving at Folkestone, and Scouts across the world are still helping refugees. This project used a collection of objects from members of the Scout International Relief Service, who were sent to European war torn countries to help in the displaced person camps. The work was funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund.


The project kicked off in autumn 2018 with a Year 5 workshop to raise awareness of refugees and migrants. Children looked at a selection of famous people and worked out what they had in common – they had all moved from their home country. Looking at the people in detail, the class then discovered which were refugees, and which were migrants, and explored the difference between the two terms.


Deciding which five items to pack if they had to flee their home, the class agreed that money would be useful! The top five things packed were money, mobile phone, games console and touchingly, a family photo.


An activity which aimed to show the class the commonalities between themselves and refugees saw them write down their likes and dislikes, and then finding matches amongst their classmates. The main commonality was that they were all human.


In the plenary the class showed they understood that refugees are just like you and I, humans. And although we might not speak the same language, we can connect with people through similar likes and hobbies. One girl when asked, ‘What would you do if a refugee joined your class?’ immediately said, “I would respect them, not judge them and be their friend”.


Books for Keeps No.235 March 2019 3


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