Since the inception of time, one of the fundamentally unique characteristics of human civilization is its diversity. A plethora of diverse ways of being, thinking, and existing govern human existence and relationships. Likewise, interpersonal conflicts have always pervaded the lives of humans underlying a clash of interests or positions in every social stage and organization including the school. 

Any school functions as a microcosm of society where there is a potential for varying levels of conflicts every day as it creates a shared space for students and teachers representing different world views and social differences. Consequently, students consciously or subconsciously often undergo the pressures of complex social interactions. This sometimes manifests in feelings of resentment, anxiety, frustration, and insecurity which in turn, can even lead to cases of intolerance and violence among students.

In the same context, teachers often dismiss conflicts or cases of bullying as symptoms of indiscipline, disrespect, and a threat to their authority. They feel forced to sanction students to maintain the sanctity of the class and continue their lecture. However, such an approach does not create an opportunity for students to have a shared dialogue, resolve their differences, and restore each other’s trust. 

We at From Dehumanisation to Rehumanisation (FDR) Initiative utilize core applications of Social-psychology and Mediation to teach students certain tools and processes that can help them to positively increase communication, and most importantly, learn how to rehumanize each other during the escalation of a conflict. Using globally renowned experiments and practical role-plays, our workshop aims to teach students across the world how to acknowledge the positive aspects of others, have an empathetic experience, and promote social inclusion over exclusion.

Empathy-building and Interpersonal Communication Workshop 

We firmly believe that conflict is not an obstacle but rather an engine of social development if it can be managed healthily and constructively. Thus, our Empathy-building and Interpersonal Communication Workshop aims to increase the capacity of each student to understand others better through a refreshing and nuanced lens enabling positive communication and respect for others.