Empatheatry is an Erasmus+ Project which gathers vulnerable youth and youth workers through the European Union. Its objectives were to make theatre accessible to young people whether with learning disabilities or coming from underprivileged backgrounds.
Conducted in Belgium, Ireland, Slovenia and Spain, the project allowed innovation and shared good practices in artistic education strategy. Theater is not only an art form but can also be a transformative tool for individual development.
Thanks to theatre workshops, groups of young people were able to gain precious experiences and correspondingly key skills like empathy, emotional expression and collaboration. In each country, different activities have been organized to best suit each need and challenges they were facing. Whether it is the language barrier or the difficulty to pursue on the long run an educational work with a vulnerable public.
In this handbook, you will find a full toolbox made by and for youth workers to enlarge pedagogic ambitions wherever you may be a teacher, a pedagogue or an animator
- Workshop structures to plan efficiently and multidisciplinary
- Practical exercises, cooperation games, improvisation techniques, self-confidence activities, …
- Methodological advice to create a safe space, handle different group dynamics, encourage creativity.
- Solutions to challenges you might face such as how to overcome linguistic barriers, how to transform conflict to dialogue opportunity, or how to adapt your organization to geographic distances in rural areas.
The Empatheatry Handbook does not propose a “one-way” method but rather gives to youth workers a variety of approaches adaptable to a wide range of situations. It allows each professional to be inspired by inclusive, participative and empathic approaches. Workshops held during the Empatheatry project showed that theater can have a very deep impact on youth development. It improves emotional intelligence, increases the sense of belonging and solidarity within a group, stimulates autonomy and encourages autonomy.
This handbook is not only a European experience success but also a practical tool destined to all youth professionals. Make this handbook your own, adapt it to your context and offer to young people you support a space for expression, confidence and empowerment through theatre.
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