environnement...raison d’être, trying always to be useful...this blog was created! It was originally launched (2006) for sharing info about YOUTH strongly supporting the motto 'When you don't want you can, when you want you can't' RE-ACT NOW! Years passed and the blog is now used mainly for information regarding environment. Although English is the communicating language throughout this blog, LINKS to publications in Hellenic language are added on the right bottom side.
Impressions from the programme at MedSOS site (in Greek): http://www.medsos.gr/medsos/2008-08-12-07-23-34/2009-06-17-15-24-59/2009-06-17-15-28-59/503--lr.html
During the exchange, an activity on Interpersonal Skills and Active listening was organized. In particular «Empathy» was the main topic of the activity! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Create Empathy
Empathy is sensing another's feelings and attitudes as if we had experienced them ourselves. It is our willingness to enter another's world, and being able to communicate to that person our sensitivity to them. It is not blind sentimentality; it always retains some objectivity and distance. We do not lose our own identity, though we discover our common humanity.
Create empathy by: • taking seriously others' needs and concerns • valuing feelings and attitudes • respecting others' privacy, experience and values • listening actively • encouraging further elaboration and clarification using open body language and a warm vocal tone • reserving judgement and blame • displaying interest in what others communicate • withholding unsought advice • supporting others' attempts to find a solution • making affirming statements and gestures.
Empathy uncovers complex needs and concerns encourages blossoming and growth improves relationships supports confidence and self-knowledge
Copyright: The conflict resolution network, http://www.crnhq.org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where that word comes from??? Empathy (Em + pathy, eg: someone that is on condition of pathos [strong desire, feeling])
So, whoever is experiencing a strong condition of pathos, he is in a situation of empathy. The original meaning of the word doesn’t have a positive or negative meaning!!! Furthermore, originally the word was used to describe a person’s condition. Later on, in the Hellenistic period the word empathy was used to describe someone that is taking part in the condition [pathos] of another person. In Greek, nowadays the word is being used for its negative meaning. The exactly opposite meaning is used in English!!!
Do you want to know more? Check the word in English, English – Greek & Greek – English dictionary. I did! Check this out: ~ Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary – Oxford University Press Empathy, 1. Ability to imagine and share another person’s feelings, experience, etc: ‘There is a strange empathy between the old lady and her grandson’ 2. Ability to identify oneself mentally with eg a work of art that one is looking at, and so to understand its meaning ~ Oxford English – Greek Learner’s Dictionary D.N. Stavropoulos & A.S. Hornby – Oxford University Press Empathy, word doesn’t exist! ~ Oxford Greek – English Learner’s Dictionary D.N. Stavropoulos – Oxford University Press Empathy, Passion, hatred, bitterness
1st Encounter of Euro-Mediterranean Youth, Beirut – Lebanon “Conflict Prevention & Peace building” The Encounter was organized by the Euro-Mediterranean Platform – Lebanon (info: www.euromedplatform.org) in collaboration with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung – Lebanon (info: http://www.feslb.org/).
- - - Saturday, 28 April 2007 Mr. Georges Abi Saleh, Representative of Euro-Med Platform – Lebanon Mr. Samir Farah, Representative of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung – Lebanon Ms. Rana Fatfat, Representative of Lebanese Minister of Youth Ms. Irene Plank, Representative of the German Embassy – Lebanon Keynote Presentations Ms. Annette Lohmann, Transforming Conflicts – Building Peace. The International Work of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung FES – Germany-Department for Development Policy Dr. Sari Hanafi, Civil Society between Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and Neighbourhood Policies: A view from the South. American University – Lebanon
1st Workshop: The Culture of War and the Culture of Peace. Case Studies: Transitional Justice Ms. Marieke Wierda - International Centre for Transitional Justice Dr. Ziad Baroud, Lawyer, Saint Joseph University – Lebanon
- - - Sunday, 29 April 2007 Open Discussion: “Responsibility to Protect”, Ms. Annette Lohman, FES – Germany – Department for Development Policy
- - - Monday, 30 April 2007 2nd Workshop: The Structural Aspect of Conflict Prevention Mr. Fadi Abou Allam, Permanent Peace Movement – Lebanon 3rd Workshop: Interpersonal Skills for Conflict Resolution Dr. Ossama Safa, Lebanese Centre for Policy Studies – Lebanon
47 youth from 10 Mediterranean countries and 27 organizations, NGO’s etc. participated, 1. Lebanese Association for Human Rights, Lebanon (info: http://www.aldhom.org/) 2. Lebanese Family Planning Association, Lebanon (info: http://www.lfpa.org.lb/) 3. Lebyouth, Lebanon (info: http://www.lebyouth.net/) 4. Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering, Lebanon 5. Amel Association, Lebanon (info: http://www.amel.org.lb/) 6. Association de justice et misericorde, Lebanon 7. OffreJoie, Lebanon (info: http://www.offrejoie.com/) 8. Civic Responsibility Association, Lebanon 9. Cultural Movement Antelias, Lebanon (info: http://www.mcaleb.org/) 10. Coordination Committee for Palestinian NGOs working in Lebanon, Lebanon 11. Lebanese Committee for Environment and Development, Lebanon 12. Al-Hares Center for Studies and Media, Palestine (info: http://www.alhares.org/) 13. International Peace and cooperation center, Palestine (info: http://www.ipcc-jerusalem.org/) 14. Nahdet El-Mahrousa Association, Egypt (info: http://www.nahdetmasr.org/) 15. Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement, Egypt (info: (info: http://www.mosharka.org/) 16. Groupe des jeunes chercheurs en sciences sociales et development, Maroc 17. Forum des jeunes Marocains du 3eme milloinaine, Maroc 18. National Forum for Youth and Culture, Jordan (info: http://www.jordanyouth.org/) 19. Jordaninan Women's Union, Jordan 20. Coupole d'une centaine d'associations et mouvements de la Société civile impliqués dans la solidarité Nord Sud en Belgique francophone (CNCD), Belgium (info: www.cncd.be) 21. Eurostep, France (info: www.eurostep.org) 22. Centre Regional d'Actions Socialesinterculturelles et de Communication, France 23. Reseau euromediterreaneen universitaires, France 24. Babelmed Journalist, Italy (info: http://www.babelmed.net/) 25. Young Socialists, Germany (Young Socialists in the SPD, info: http://www.jusos.de/) 26. Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and sustainable Development, Greece (info: http://www.mio-ecsde.org/)
Read also Sustainable Mediterranean - issue no 47 - 2/2007 - Quarterly newsletter produced by the Mediterranean Information Office for the Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development, in collaboration with the European Environmental Bureau and the Arab NGO Network for Environmentand Development @ www.mio-ecsde.org/filemgmt/visit.php?lid=297
Marine scientist (Univ. Aegean), MSc in Water Resources Science & Technology (N.T.U.A.), Master in EU studies (C.I.F.E.), Certificate of Pedagogical & Teaching Competence (School of Pedagogical and Technological Education) - Youth worker
Youth Exchange: “Connections” (EC Youth Programme, Action 1 - Youth for Europe),
