building the #EmpathyGeneration
About
Over the past three years we've become expert human storytellers and use the power of film as well as our experience as educators and teachers to create an awe-inspiring whole school approach to empathy development.
Our vision is long term, no one child will be an expert after one week but by taking part throughout their school journey from the age of 5 until 18, students will watch 65 different peoples life stories from every type of culture, ethnicity, religion, creed, career, gender and country thinkable. These films combined with our quality teaching resources and opportunities made with teachers and empathy experts will, over time, develop a strong identity and skill base in empathy for students and teachers taking part.
An important and transparent note on our film and work: Whilst we are supportive of a progressive world we understand that there are laws in certain countries that mean certain topics are not viewable or teachable. We work closely with the humans we film and gather their consent before removing certain topics that they discuss because we ultimately believe that every child should have the opportunity to take part in Empathy Week.
Click below to find out more...
Our programme
Our people
How it works
A whole-school approach
Our resources and films are differentiated into five age categories, spanning ages 5 to 18, allow students of all ages to access social concepts at the right cognitive level.
To take part teachers and schools can follow these easy steps:
-
Register your school for Empathy Week
-
Start the programme from 21st February onwards
-
Use the resources flexibly around your curriculum and timetable
We've separated our programme into three distinct areas so that you can participate in the way that suits you, fitting everything around your timetable.
Download the documents below for more information:
Our Learning Framework
Films &
Reflections
Stage 1
Discovering Empathy
Empathy +
During Empathy Week - 21-25th February
-
5 powerful human films (all 10 minutes or less)
-
15-20 minute session perfect for assemblies, tutor time, or for a start of a lesson
Empathy
for myself
Empathy
for others
Stage 2
Building Empathy
After Empathy Week
2x 20-30 minute lessons to extend learning
-
Empathy for myself: focused on understanding your own self, biases, views, beliefs and thoughts
-
Empathy for others: focused on using empathy constructively with others around you
Empathy
Action
Project &
Awards
Stage 3
Empathy+
Extended learning for deeper empathy development. Putting empathy into action.
Workbooks guide for students and teachers through a 4-6 week Empathy Action Project
-
Classroom projects for ages 5-10
-
Individual and team projects for ages 11-18
-
Downloadable certificates for in-school competitions
-
Entry into the Global Empathy Awards
Stage 2
Building Empathy
Ongoing use of Empathy Week resources
Teachers download the resources
Empathy Action
Projects
Submit to Global
Empathy Awards
Stage 1
Discovering
Empathy
Stage 3
Empathy+
Anytime
December
2021
21-25
February
2022
March-April
2022
April
2022
May
2022
June
2022
Register your class or school anytime!
Empathy
Week!
Run in-school awards
Global Empathy Awards
Timeline to 2022
Meet the team
A message from the Founder and CEO
Hello, I'm Ed, Founder and CEO of Empathy Week.
For me, education is about preparing students of all ages for a future that no one can yet predict. Yet education systems across the world still lack the knowledge, expertise and quite frankly, common sense to develop the skills that students will need to be happy and successful in their futures.
At Empathy Week, we believe that empathy - the ability to understand other people's thoughts, feelings and perspectives - is the most important and vital skill for personal and professional development in this ever-changing and increasingly connected world.
Having taught in a large North London comprehensive for three years, I have seen first hand the pressure on teachers and students to achieve grade-focused targets. Whilst teaching, I realised there was a greater need to develop students in more ways, and unlock their potential as unique individuals. I wanted to make sure my students left school as global citizens, equipped with the emotional skills to help themselves, and those around them.
That's why I set off on a mission to build the #EmpathyGeneration in schools around the world. Welcome to everyone who believes in that mission, I can't wait to have you on board.
Nilema Bhakta-Jones
Board Advisor
Myriam Coupard
Board Advisor
Jennifer Condlyffe
Marketing Assistant
Miriam Carter-Fraser
Curriculum Lead
Andy Galloway
Strategy & Marketing
Shaun Bhakta-Jones
Advisor
Sara Milne Rowe
Board Advisor
Mamta Gera
Diversity & Inclusion Advisor
Empathy Advisors
Dr. Lidewij Niezink
Empathic Intervision
Dr. Katherine Train
Empathic Intervision
Dr. Helen Demetriou
Pyschologist, Lecturer & Author
Dr. Claire Yorke
Author & Academic
Our Ambassadors
Alison Oliver MBE
CEO Youth Sport Trust
Pankaj Mahajan
Slum Soccer
Lord Jim Knight
Director SUKLAA
Claude Silver
Chief Heart Officer
Vayner Media
Raymond Tannor
Audio Producer
& Host
Samantha Hornsby
Co-founder ERIC
Mimi Nicklin
Author & Empathetic Influencer
Loui Blake
Restaurant Entrepreneur
Mae Yip
Co-founder ERIC
Minter Dial
Speaker, Podcaster
& Author
Matt Crabtree
Founder & Partner Positive Momentum
Kash Battacharya
Founder & Editor
The Budget Traveller
Liz Warner
Founder Run to Reach
Natalie Gayle
Presenter, Actor & DJ
Jasmine Birtles
Financial expert & TV personality
Mingma Tenzing
Business advisor & Counsellor
Ola Christian
Casting Director & Founder Levile TV
Pete Crocombe
Founder The Ordinary Sports Group
Louise Graham
Social Impact Mentor & Coach
.jpg)
Linda Papadopoulos
Pyschologist, Author & Broadcaster
Dominic Norton
Founder Missing Black People
Zahrah Surooprajally
Digital Specialist
Mariliese De Viliers
Author, Founder & CEO ROAR
Matthew Barrett
Co-founder of Goal Click
Jo Berry
Founder Building Bridges for Peace
Empathy Week Judges
Our judges are education experts and each year judge the projects submitted to the Global Empathy Awards which is part of the Empathy+ section of the programme, open to all registered schools.
Gavin Dykes
Director, Education World Forum
Dr. Melissa Collins
Principal & Top 50 Global Teacher Prize
Prof. Dr. Ger Graus
Global Director of Education, Kidzania
Bhawana Shrestha
Founder, My Emotions Matter
International Teacher Ambassadors
We're lucky enough to have a fantastic growing community of international teacher ambassadors from across tthe world including: India, Nepal, Vietnam, Lebanon, Uganda, USA, Mexico, Ecuador, UK, Nigeria and Brasil. Our ambassador community meets throughout the year to share best practice and help improve the Empathy Week programme so that it is accessible and relevant for all. In 2022 we will be working together to translate as many resources as possible!
