Empathy
A key skill for personal and professional life
- Duration
- 3 h
- Units
- 3
- Lessons
- 13
- Interactive activities
- 36
Read the transcript
SMILE · Module 2: Empathy · introduction video (English)
This is Lina. A new colleague, Farid, joined her team at the office. At lunch, he sits alone and looks tired. Lina could think: he is not friendly. Instead, she sits down and asks: how is your first week?
Then she listens. Farid starts work at eight and takes two buses every morning. Now Lina understands him better, and the next day they have lunch together.
Empathy matters at work, too. Fifty percent of employers call empathy and active listening a core skill.
This module has three units. One: Understanding Empathy. Two: Empathy in Diverse Settings. Three: Empathy in Practice.
You will practise role-plays, make an empathy map, check your listening skills, and get a certificate at the end.
Ready to understand others better? Let's start: Module two, Empathy.
On screen: Source: World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report 2025
Narration: AI-generated voice (OpenAI)
Music: AI-generated (Google Lyria)
Animation: SMILE project, Smart Leap
As a young newcomer, you are often on both sides of empathy. You need officers, employers and neighbours to understand you. And every day you understand others: you interpret for a friend, calm a stressed customer, or listen to a colleague after a night shift. This module turns that experience into a skill you can name and practise. You decide how much of your own story you share. Short answers are enough, and you can always pass. Your answers are saved in your account, and other learners cannot see them.
This module introduces empathy as a key soft skill for personal and professional development. It highlights how empathy strengthens communication, trust and collaboration in different settings and in diverse environments. Participants take part in interactive activities to recognise emotions, practise active listening and understand different perspectives. The module promotes an ethical and sensitive approach to trauma, difference and cultural complexity. It frames empathy as a relational practice shaped by lived experiences and social context. Designed specifically for young migrants, this module supports conflict resolution and the building of inclusive relationships through reflective exercises and real-life scenarios.
Duration in the curriculum. Total duration 3 hours: 1.5 hours theory (concepts, discussion, examples) and 1.5 hours practical or reflective work (activities, role-play, personal reflection). The module can be delivered as one 3-hour session or two 1.5-hour sessions.
How this module teaches
- Introducing concepts. Short, accessible input using visuals, stories and real-life examples; metaphors such as bridges and mirrors introduce the dimensions of empathy.
- Guided practice. Role-play, empathy mapping, embodied exercises and scenario analysis: a structured exploration of emotions, power dynamics and relational cues.
- Personal reflection. Journaling, storytelling circles and group dialogue connect empathy to participants' own migration journeys, career goals and ethical commitments.
- Trauma-sensitive practice. Grounding techniques, opt-out options for emotionally intense activities, and check-in and check-out rituals.
- Decolonial and feminist pedagogy. Facilitators reflect on their own position and power; empathy is framed as a political and relational act, not a neutral skill.
- Safe space. Group agreements created with participants ("We listen to understand", "We honour silence", "We speak from lived experience"), consent practices and a "safety thermometer".
Key references of the curriculum
- Brown, B. (2013). Daring Greatly. Penguin Books.
- Goleman, D. (1995). Emotional Intelligence. Bantam Books.
- Harvard Business Review. (2021). Empathy Is the Most Important Leadership Skill.
- OECD. (2018). The Future of Education and Skills: Education 2030.
- Smaling, A. (2007). The Meaning of Empathic Understanding in Human Inquiry.
- Zembylas, M. (2018). Reinventing Critical Pedagogy as Decolonizing Pedagogy.
- Khader, S. J. (2018). Victims' Stories and the Postcolonial Politics of Empathy.
- Marino, T. M. (2022). Empathy in Bridging Western and Indigenous Knowledges.
- Nussbaum, M. (2010). Not for Profit: Why Democracy Needs the Humanities.
- IOM. Migration and youth (International Dialogue on Migration No. 29). https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/idm-29.pdf
- UNHCR. Youth report 2020-2022. https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/unhcr-youth-report-2020-2022.pdf
Suggested balance
- Theory and guided discussion 1 h 30 min
- Practice: cases, role-play, reflection 1 h 30 min
As set in the SMILE curriculum for this module (total 3 h).
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module you will be able to:
- Define empathy and explain its role in interpersonal and intercultural communication, including its ethical and political dimensions.
- Identify common barriers to empathy and develop strategies to overcome these barriers in various social settings, including biases rooted in colonial histories or cultural hierarchies.
- Practise active listening and perspective-taking in real-life scenarios, using tools such as empathy mapping and role-play to explore layered identities and social systems.
- Apply empathetic responses in workplace and community interactions in order to foster inclusion and collaboration, while remaining aware of power dynamics and avoiding a “saviour” mindset.
Who is it for
- Young migrants and refugees aged 18-30 who work, study or look for work in diverse teams and communities
- Young people who often help others by listening, interpreting or mediating
- Youth workers, trainers and mentors who support young newcomers
- Employers and team leaders of mixed teams who want to listen better
What you need
- Basic English (A2-B1)
- A phone or computer with internet
- No previous training needed
Module challenge: Empathy in practice
Complete all required activities of the 13 lessons, including the three Pause and Rewind role-plays and your Empathy Onion. Then pass the knowledge check with at least 60%.
Curriculum
Units and topics in the order of the SMILE curriculum.
Unit 1Understanding Empathy
- Opening Ritual: Our group agreement 8 min 2 activities Free preview
- Activity: Object Stories 12 min 2 activities
- 1.1 Defining Empathy and Its Core Components 14 min 3 activities
- 1.2 Empathy and Sympathy: What Is the Difference? 13 min 2 activities
- 1.3 The Role of Empathy in Communication and Teamwork 13 min 2 activities
Unit 2Empathy in Diverse Settings
- Mini Case Studies 12 min 2 activities
- 2.1 Cultural Sensitivity and Perspective-Taking 16 min 4 activities
- 2.2 Barriers to Empathy: Bias, Stress, Miscommunication and Colonial Legacies 16 min 3 activities
- 2.3 Empathy in Conflict Resolution and Collaboration 16 min 4 activities Free preview
Unit 3Empathy in Practice
- 3.1 Active Listening Techniques 13 min 3 activities
- 3.2 Role-Play and Real-Life Scenarios 15 min 3 activities
- 3.3 Reflection and Personal Application 12 min 4 activities
- Closing Ritual: Gratitude circle 6 min 2 activities
- Knowledge check: Empathy 14 min Knowledge check
Presentation and materials
Questions about this module
Do I have to share my own migration story?
No. You always decide how much you share. Short answers are enough, you can write "pass", and many activities work with an imagined person or a fictional character.
Who can see my answers?
Other learners cannot see your answers. They are saved in your account, and the platform team can see activity answers to check and improve the course. Do not write names or private details about other people.
How long does the module take?
About 3 hours: 13 short lessons of 6 to 16 minutes and a 14-minute knowledge check. You can stop and continue at any time.
Is there an exam?
There is a short knowledge check with 12 questions at the end. You can try as many times as you like, you see an explanation for every answer, and you pass with 60%.
What if a topic brings back difficult memories?
Pause and come back later. The lessons suggest a simple grounding exercise. If you need support, talk to someone you trust or to a local support service.
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