BUILDING BRIDGES: Pathways towards Empathy and Connection

The international training course Building Bridges – Pathways towards Empathy and Connection was a 7-day course designed for youth workers to enhance their skills in empathy, communication, and building meaningful relationships. The program combined Nonviolent Communication (NVC) with somatic practices, bringing together participants from eight European countries and creating a collaborative and inspiring learning environment.

During the training, participants explored the key elements of the NVC model developed by Marshall Rosenberg, such as:

observing without judging,
recognizing and naming feelings,
identifying the needs behind feelings,
formulating requests instead of demands.

The project focused on strengthening interpersonal relationships, deepening empathy, and fostering meaningful connections in youth work. Through interactive workshops, group and pair exercises, role plays, and reflection, participants practiced responding with empathy, transforming tension into constructive dialogue, and building trust and understanding within their communities.

As Marshall Rosenberg reminds us:
“Every human interaction is an opportunity for connection and understanding.”

The Building Bridges project was implemented with the support of the Erasmus+ program of the European Union, which promotes international cooperation and the development of key competences in youth work. As part of the project, a practical guide was created, featuring exercises to develop empathy, communication, and authentic relationship-building skills. Additionally, a webinar on developing empathy through Nonviolent Communication was organized to share the project’s outcomes, inspire others, and promote the values of empathy and dialogue based on mutual understanding across Europe.

Building Bridges – Empathy with Nonviolent Communication – webinar
Booklet: soon

Project partners: