“Children grow up in a pluralistic society and learn to understand and, above all, accept differences. We don’t have to adopt each other’s customs, but understanding each other creates togetherness and a better world. The children gain knowledge and insight about certain values and norms of themselves and others and know how to act accordingly. So they see better what binds them together. From amazement to connection.”
Empathy Land is an exciting and educational board game that, among other things, contributes to citizenship skills in primary education. It is a tool that can be used regularly and at any time for citizenship lessons and for Orientation to Yourself and the World – Man and Society – core objective 37 in particular. It teaches students to orient themselves to the world near, far, then and now. The game is suitable for students in grades 5 through 8. But above all, the game makes it possible to talk openly and playfully with each other about that which both makes us unique and connects us. It teaches students how we have so much to offer each other from cultural diversity.
Children have lively discussions about their home situations. Teachers hear spontaneous conversations they could not have imagined without the game. We received this feedback from a school in Drachten after playing Empathy Land:
“In a group with many non-native speakers, the students really enjoyed discussing the similarities with each other. There was a lot of surprise about some of the differences; the students kept asking questions of each other.”
The games are ready to play and can be easily facilitated by the teacher. Instructions for teachers can be found via a QR code on the box.
Workshops for teachers are available to improve teachers’ intercultural knowledge and skills.The game is bilingual, Dutch and English.
The starting point is that schools will pay a co-payment for Empathy Land. With 5 games needed for a class, schools will be able to budget their own contribution for Empathy Land at 115. We hope to finance the run-up with pre-orders, grant and donations.
Order the school pack of five games here. The package is suitable for up to 30 children in class. The own contribution to the package is 115,- euro, VAT exempt (discount for this edition is 35 euro). We will include an invoice when sending the package. This edition can possibly be accounted for under IFO Grant.
Connect2Us Foundation is a not-for-profit organization (ANBI and CBF approved) and the benefits are spent on the Foundation’s objective.
Through this link you will find the game instructions.
These can also be retrieved via the QR code on the box of the game. You will then have them on your mobile or iPad. A PDF for printing can be found here.