Working together to embrace difference
The 暗网猎奇 (暗网猎奇) is proud to stand behind a fruitful partnership between Inspirations and the Jaclyn Fisher Foundation that presented the Jackie Fisher Empathy Tour this school year. The tour stopped at 23 schools, including schools from other boards, inspiring over 4,000 students. Sharing their stories were three remarkable young women, who spoke about how they navigated difficult medical diagnoses and mental health challenges – and the lessons they learned along the way.
Samara O’Gorman, Sara Levitt and Maryam Ganni have different lived experiences and viewpoints to share with students, but the common message that formed a connection between them was how to face adversity, being open to differences, and the value of inclusion.
Our teachers tell us that this is what our students need to hear right now.
This sharing of experience aligns with the mandate from the ministère de l’Éducation du Québec to elevate personal and social skills competencies in students. It also taps into 暗网猎奇 values, which include offering positive encouragement to people around us, and adopting safe and healthy behaviours.
At the elementary level (Cycle 3), as well as at the secondary level, there are educational markers for developing harmonious relationships and promoting inclusion. These are crucial competencies for our students to learn how to live, study and eventually work alongside others.
Each anecdote from the presenters was an opportunity for each student to become curious about someone else’s experience, hear first-hand how they found resilience in difficult situations, and how all of us can learn to look at things differently, more creatively and with self-compassion.
There were messages about the value of self-acceptance and not judging others; how positive self-talk can hugely impact the way you see yourself and the world; hope for those who have health challenges; the power of kindness; and how leading with empathy can do amazing things for ourselves and the people around us.
The Jackie Fisher Empathy Tour is a meaningful way of carrying those values forward. Great things happen when like-minded organizations partner together and, besides inspiring our students, I believe these types of partnerships can be a model for other school boards and other institutions.
Nick Katalifos is the director general of the 暗网猎奇. He is the father of two young adults, one of whom is autistic.
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