A tool for developing empathy and critical thinking
A tool for developing empathy and critical thinking
Some stories entertain us, others make us think, and some can leave us feeling uncertain. For teenagers especially, today's information age is full of challenges. Snap judgements, labelling, stereotypes, or even deliberate disinformation have become a standard part of their world.
We use storytelling to help young people navigate this complex environment more easily. It serves to build a better understanding of themselves and the people around them.
Why do we believe in stories in youth work?
Stories have one huge advantage – they don't lecture or judge anyone. They allow us to see the world through someone else's eyes and understand what they are currently going through. They create a safe environment not only for opening up difficult and sensitive topics, whether it's bullying, feelings of exclusion, or the fear of being different, but they also provide a natural space where we can calmly communicate and discuss these issues with young people.
When we explore fairy tales, legends, or real-life accounts with youth, we don't give them ready-made answers. We teach them how to listen and ask questions.
What is the goal of our project?
We aim to provide teenagers and those who work with them with practical tools to improve the climate in their communities. We focus primarily on these areas:
- Building empathy: We teach young people to realise that behind every behaviour is someone's personal story and experience. We help them look beneath the surface and understand the motivations and feelings of others before making a snap judgement.
- Developing critical thinking: We help teenagers avoid falling for first impressions and quick emotions. We teach them how to distinguish between a verifiable fact, a mere opinion, and deliberate manipulation.
- Breaking down stereotypes: We show them how to stop labelling people. We give young people the opportunity to take responsibility for their class or youth group, working together to find ways to heal and strengthen damaged relationships.
Our methodological resources for download
During our international collaboration, we have created and tested a comprehensive set of practical tools. Whether you are a teacher, youth worker, group leader, or librarian, all these resources are freely available for you to download.
📁 Methodological Guide: Stories Under the Magnifying Glass A foundational guide that shows you how to safely and meaningfully integrate storytelling into your practice. It includes a theoretical background, ethical guidelines for working with sensitive topics, and tips on how to handle strong emotions within a group.
📁 Activity Reservoir: Inspirational Activities A practical document full of step-by-step techniques. Here you will find, for example, activities for mapping relationships within a group (Living and Dead Water), a disinformation workshop, and exercises to help understand how prejudice and discrimination arise.
📁 Story Analysis and Worksheets Breakdowns of specific stories (e.g., The Ugly Duckling, Goldilocks, or real-life accounts) that will help you open up topics of difference and bullying. This also includes ready-to-print worksheets.
The "Stories Under the Magnifying Glass" project is implemented in international cooperation with EDUMA from Slovakia and the National Leprechaun Museum from Ireland.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the granting authority. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.