Kindergarten/Grade 1 Student, Rushoon, Newfoundland & Labrador (2021)

I helped someone who was feeling “sad.”

“Kindergarten children develop emotional literacy in their Roots of Empathy class when they learn about a baby’s feelings. This gives them the vocabulary to understand their own feelings. There are many activities in the Roots of Empathy program that help children to understand the feelings of their classmates. Emotional literacy helps children to regulate their emotions and it also helps them with altruism. Here a little boy draws an action picture of a child being hurt and because he has empathy, he understands that the child will feel sad and goes to his aid. He is the kind of citizen we need to build a more caring, peaceful and civil society.” – Founder/President Mary Gordon

Grade 1 Student, Gander Bay, Newfoundland & Labrador (2019)

What can Roots of Empathy teach the world? “Roots of Empathy can teach the world to be [kind].”

“Six-year-old Kierran from Gander has drawn a picture where a stranger understood his fear and upset after a car accident. The stranger demonstrated empathy, “Are you ok?”. In order to be kind, we first must have empathy to be able to imagine how the other person feels. Gander is known worldwide for its empathy in the 9/11 empathic response. It is interesting that the day of Kierran’s trauma had a black sky.” – Founder/President Mary Gordon

Kindergarten Student, Twillingate, Newfoundland & Labrador (2021)

I helped someone who was sad, frightened or lonely when “I gave Emily a flower.”

“Children in the Roots of Empathy program develop friendships in the classroom. Friendships that children are able to sustain pave the way for relationship building all their lives. Children are able to make friends because Roots of Empathy supports them in knowing how to connect to others through our shared feelings. This empathic capacity will not only help children in their personal lives but will build a citizenry that has the capacity to be inclusive, to embrace diversity, and to build peace.” – Founder/President Mary Gordon