Ashoka’s latest competition Activating Empathy is trying to find the best ideas, programs, and learning-models around the world that ensures children master empathy, a critical skill that is said to be a requirement to contribute successfully to society. One of the goals for the competition is to address bullying and aggression as it is not uncommon to see schools with such problems that lead to deadly outcomes. Mary Gordon has been involved for decades in childhood development and education. She became the first female Canadian Ashoka Fellow in 2002 and her social enterprise Roots of Empathy is working to reduce levels of aggression among schoolchildren while raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy.
Mary Gordon founded Roots of Empathy in 1996 and it became a charitable non-profit organization in 2000. Roots of Empathy is an evidence-based classroom program where neighbourhood infant and parent who engage students in their classroom. Roots of Empathy instructors guide the children as they observe the relationship between baby and parent, understanding the baby’s intentions and emotions.
Studies have shown that such a program reduces aggressive behavior and children were more likely to recognize acts of kindness in their classroom peers.
The program extends to children from Kindergarten to Grade 8 and has since expanded from Canada to New Zealand, Isle of Man, Ireland, Scotland, and the United States, reaching over 450,000 children.
The effects of the program are said to extend beyond apparent advantages. Children with high levels of aggression are at higher risk of depression, suicide attempts, alcohol and drug abuse, violent crimes, and neglectful and abusive parenting.
Between March 22 and 24, Roots of Empathy will be one of 50 ideas presented at Change Nation in Dublin, a three-day event hosted by Ashoka Ireland to help kick-start an ambitious plan to tackle key challenges facing the country.