Middle and High School students from American School of The Hague recently attended an international conference in Budapest, “Beyond the Future”, aimed at inspiring students to make positive change and envision a more sustainable future. At the conference, two of our Middle School students, Lulu and Caroline, led a workshop on empathy. The conference, centered around changemaking, gathered students from various schools to explore ways they could positively impact their communities.

 

 

Their workshop sought to address the growing disconnect between young people, especially after the pandemic, and encourage small but meaningful acts of kindness. "You don’t have to be best friends with everyone, but you can still be polite and respectful," Lulu shared. Their session introduced the Solutionary Framework—a four-step method (Identify, Investigate, Innovate, Implement)— a method often used throughout Middle School designed to help students explore practical ways to develop meaningful projects.

 

At the workshop, students guided fellow students from other international schools through real-world scenarios and discussions on how empathy can lead to broader societal change. Among many questions, they addressed why some students might feel excluded and discussed steps that have already been taken to promote belonging in their schools allowing participants to reflect on their own experiences and the changes needed within their communities.

 

 

Beyond the Changemakers Conference, students have already facilitated this workshop back at ASH multiple times and led various activities such as the Student Voice Initiative assemblies and fundraisers for several different causes.

 

For Lulu and Caroline, creating a more understanding environment is not only something they find important for the well-being of students at school, but also in the construction of a healthy, peaceful society. At the conference, they shared a recent initiative they led at school: "We call it 'Walk in My Shoes,'" they explained. "We started by asking Middle and High School students if they would be willing to share personal stories about friendship, transition, triumph, or loss," they explained. "We collected these stories along with shoes and shoeboxes. Then, during an interactive display, students would read the stories and physically step into the shoes, allowing them to experience someone else’s perspective—literally walking in their shoes."

 

Reflecting on their experience, the students shared that seeing the inspiration around the room was the most rewarding part. Looking ahead, Lulu and Caroline are determined to continue their work in High School and are already exploring ways to integrate their initiatives into a formal club that focuses on empathy-driven projects.

 

Their message is simple but powerful: small acts of empathy can create a ripple effect, leading to a kinder and fairer world. "If everyone cared just a little bit more, we could solve so many bigger issues…it’s the first step toward positive change." they said.