IMPLEMENTATION
"DIGITAL ENTERPRISE THROUGH EMPATHY" took place in Pacos De Fereira, Porto, Portugal from the 13th to the 20th of July and was implemented by No Gordio and ACPELIA organizations.
14th of July 2023
FIRST DAY
GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER
During the morning session, we held an activity about creating our own envelopes. In this activity, participants were walking in the room with a piece of paper with their names and a circle (face). As they were walking with their papers each time and when the trainer said "stop", it was simultaneously suggested to draw a specific feature of the face of the participant whose name was on the paper (e.g., eyebrows, eyes, lips). We continued until we had drawn the whole face. In this way, we had a portrait of each participant which had been drawn by various other participants. Afterwards, we put them up on the wall with an envelope underneath which was used to place some "presents'' and nice words for each person. Within the framework of this activity, we played secret friend throughout the whole week. In fact, each participant had a secret friend from which they were receiving small presents the whole week!
Within the first session, we also had a small introduction to the project of the whole week explaining what follows. We also set some general guidelines to follow throughout the duration of the project.
FEARS, EXPECTATIONS, CONTRIBUTIONS
YOUTHPASS ACTIVITY
In this activity, participants have been divided into eight groups. Around the workshop room, they were eight stations. Each station was about one Erasmus Plus Competence (e.g., Literacy, Multilingual, Mathematical, Digital, Personal and Learning to Learn, Citizenship, Entrepreneurship, and Cultural Awareness and Expression Competence). Participants with their teams received their Youth Pass portfolio and they had to go around the stations and complete a particular task out of three. For each task of a particular competence they completed, they were going to the "authorities" to receive confirmation through a stamp. To our surprise, most teams completed all the tasks. This was a way for them to understand that Youth Pass is not only about the certificate they receive but about the subjective way in which they develop. It has been given to them space in this way, to reflect on each competence through practical learning, collaboration, and fun.
THREE MONKEYS
In this activity, participants got divided into pairs of three. Triads had one particular task. Person A was representing someone that cannot see, person B, someone that cannot hear, and person C someone that cannot speak. Being divided in this way, they had to complete particular tasks. The meaning of this activity was that we do not only hear with our eyes, but we do also not only see with our eyes, and we do not only speak by using language. We should be energetically open to receiving information in whatever setting; we should be accepting and embracing other people's inner voices. Only, in this way, can any work follow smoothly with the maximum impact and result.
15th of July 2023
SECOND DAY
EXCURSION DAY
Free day at Porto: The second day was devoted to an excursion, during which participants had the opportunity to explore the city of Porto. Some opted for surfing while others enjoyed a guided tour of beautiful monuments.
Porto or Oporto is the second-largest city in Portugal, the capital of the Oporto District, and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Oporto city proper, which is the entire municipality of Porto, is small compared to its metropolitan area, with an estimated population of just 231,800 people in a municipality with only 41.42 km2.Porto's metropolitan area has around 1.7 million people (2021) in an area of 2,395 km2 (925 sq mi), making it the second-largest urban area in Portugal. It is recognized as a global city with a Gamma + rating from the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.
Located along the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal, Oporto is one of the oldest European centres, and its core was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996, as the "Historic Centre of Porto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar". The historic area is also a National Monument of Portugal. The western part of its urban area extends to the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. Its settlement dates back many centuries when it was an outpost of the Roman Empire. Its combined Celtic-Latin name, Portus Cale, has been referred to as the origin of the name Portugal, based on transliteration and oral evolution from Latin. In Portuguese, the name of the city includes a definite article: o Porto ("the port" or "the harbor"), which is where its English name "Oporto" comes from.
16th of July 2023
THIRD DAY/
FROM SELF-UNDERSTANDING TO EMPATHY
On the morning of the third day, a debate activity took place, engaging all participants in an interactive discussion. The activity involved positioning themselves on designated markings labelled "YES," "NO," or "MAYBE" in response to various thought-provoking statements. For example, one statement could be whether a digital business is more competitive than a traditional business.
By standing on their chosen markings, participants expressed their beliefs and perspectives on the given topics. This activity provided an inclusive platform for everyone to voice their opinions and engage in constructive debates. It encouraged a lively exchange of ideas and allowed participants to learn from one another's viewpoints.
The dynamic nature of the debate activity encouraged critical thinking and helped individuals explore different angles of the subjects at hand. Participants were exposed to diverse insights and had the opportunity to challenge their existing beliefs, fostering intellectual growth and open-mindedness.
JOURNALING SESSION
In the subsequent session, participants engaged in a series of thought-provoking exercises aimed at gaining deeper insights into their life choices and personal aspirations. The first activity involved delving into the underlying reasons behind their actions by repeatedly asking themselves "Why." Through this introspective process, participants sought to uncover the true motivations driving their life decisions. Furthermore, they extended this exercise to one another, helping fellow participants explore their purposes by asking probing "Why" questions and encouraging them to delve deeper into their thoughts.
Another task focused on recalling a peak moment in their lives, analyzing what made it so special, and understanding the elements that contributed to their happiness. This exercise aimed to illuminate the factors that bring fulfilment and joy to their lives.
Participants were also encouraged to create a list of life goals and aspirations but with the added challenge of subsequently removing some items from the list. This exercise aimed to foster focus and efficiency by prioritizing their ambitions and learning to let go of non-essential pursuits.
In another activity, participants reflected on their pet peeves and the qualities of others that annoy them. By identifying these negative aspects, they gained a clearer understanding of the qualities they wanted to avoid embodying themselves and sought to align their environment with their values and personality.
Lastly, the participants identified their five core values, which served as the pillars defining their character. Understanding these core values enabled them to later translate them into the professional values that would shape their businesses and guide their decision-making processes. Overall, the session aimed to promote self-awareness, clarify personal motivations, and lay the foundation for personal and professional growth.
MASK ACTIVITY
This art activity revolves around the concept of decorating both the outside and inside of a mask, representing how we are perceived by others and how we perceive ourselves. Using a mask as a metaphor allows us to explore the various facets of our identity. Masks have a unique appeal, as they hold a deep-rooted tradition in diverse cultures and evoke profound emotions. As a symbol, masks enable us to communicate and share our human experiences more powerfully.
The process of creating this mask becomes a means to express what may have remained unspoken or hidden within us. It encourages introspection, urging us to contemplate our true selves and the persona we present to the outside world. By sharing our real experiences through this artistic endeavour, we embrace the idea that we all have masks - different layers of our personalities that may be visible or concealed from others.
This project fosters an environment of acceptance and self-awareness. It recognizes that it's perfectly normal to have distinct aspects of ourselves. Embracing this understanding, we gain a deeper knowledge of our own complexity and develop a greater sense of self-acceptance. It encourages us to be more conscious of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, fostering a practice of embracing all aspects of who we are.
Ultimately, this creative journey allows us to be more authentic, genuine, and at peace with ourselves. It offers an opportunity to bridge the gap between our outer and inner selves, gaining insight into the harmony or dissonance between the two. By engaging in this meaningful artistic process, we embark on a path of self-discovery and growth, celebrating the beautiful tapestry of our identities and embracing the multidimensional beings that we are.
TAKE A STEP FORWARD
The day ended with an outdoor activity called "Take a Step Forward," designed to cultivate empathy and foster a deeper understanding of human rights. Each participant was assigned a roleplaying concept, and during a guided meditation, they immersed themselves in the experiences and emotions of that role. The goal was for participants to step into the shoes of others and gain a firsthand appreciation for their perspectives and challenges.
Led by a facilitator, the activity involved a series of statements related to human rights. Participants were asked to reflect on whether they personally had access to certain privileges, such as education or wifi. If they answered "yes," they took a step forward, visually symbolizing their advantage. On the other hand, if they answered "no," they remained in their original position, highlighting the absence of those rights.
By engaging in this exercise, participants developed a profound sense of empathy. They were given the opportunity to tangibly understand the privileges they possessed or lacked, experiencing firsthand the disparities that exist among human beings.
Beyond merely understanding the roles they were assigned, the "Take a Step Forward" activity allows participants to connect with the broader human experience. They realize that regardless of individual circumstances or roles, all human beings are equal and deserve access to basic rights and opportunities. The activity powerfully conveyed the message that equity lies in providing equal access to these rights, ensuring that everyone can benefit from them.
17th of July 2023
FOURTH DAY
EMPATHY UNROLLED
EMPATHY MAP
In the morning session of the Fourth Day, the participants engaged in a valuable learning experience that began with a concise presentation on Design Thinking and Empathy Mapping.
Design Thinking is a human-centred and iterative problem-solving approach that emphasizes understanding and empathizing with the needs, desires, and challenges of the end-users or customers. It involves a structured process that fosters creativity, collaboration, and innovation to develop effective and user-centric solutions.
Empathy Mapping, on the other hand, is a specific tool within the Design Thinking framework. It enables participants to deeply empathize with the customer's perspective by creating a visual representation of their feelings, thoughts, actions, and spoken words. By putting themselves in the shoes of the customer, the participants gain valuable insights into the customer's experiences and preferences.
The participants were then divided into groups of three, and each group received a customer-based scenario. Their task was to collaborate and collectively fill out an Empathy Map for the specified customer, delving into how this individual feels, thinks, acts, and expresses themselves. By examining what the customer says and does, they aimed to uncover the underlying emotions and thought processes behind these behaviours.
Based on the Empathy Map, the groups were asked to articulate and write a concrete problem statement. In the context of Design Thinking, a problem statement succinctly defines the challenge or issue that needs to be addressed. It is framed from the customer's perspective and focuses on their needs, ensuring that any proposed solution is aligned with the customer's requirements.
Through this exercise, participants honed their empathetic understanding of customers' needs and gained a better grasp of the challenges they face. The emphasis on human-centred thinking allowed them to approach problem-solving from a customer-first perspective, ensuring that the solutions they develop are relevant, effective, and meaningful.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
During the second session, the focus shifted to introducing the Golden Circle concept, a powerful framework developed by Simon Sinek that delves into the fundamental elements of a business's vision and purpose. The participants were guided through tasks aimed at helping them define and refine their business ideas.
The Golden Circle concept centers around three essential questions: "Why," "How," and "What." Participants were encouraged to first explore the "Why" of their business idea, which represents its core purpose and the underlying motivation behind it. By understanding the deeper reason for their venture, participants could establish a strong foundation for their business's direction and mission.
Next, the participants delved into the "How" aspect of their business idea. This step involved defining the strategies, processes, and methods that would enable them to achieve their vision. It allowed them to consider the practical aspects of turning their purpose into reality and identifying the key actions required to make their business successful.
Finally, the participants addressed the "What" of their business idea, which pertains to the tangible products or services they intend to offer. This step involved specifying the features, attributes, and unique selling points that would set their offerings apart from competitors.
In addition to the Golden Circle exercise, participants engaged in competitive analysis. By evaluating their competitors, they gained insights into the existing market landscape and identified potential gaps or opportunities. This analysis also helped them uncover their business's unique selling point, the distinct feature that sets them apart from others and provides a competitive advantage.
BRAND IDENTITY
During the third session, participants were introduced to Brand Identity. They had to complete 3 logos (a primary logo, a brandmark, and a wordmark) one worksheets encompassing tasks such as logo creation, development of a colour palette, determination of a tone of voice, and creation of an ad reel.
CLAY THERAPY
In this engaging session, participants were presented with a unique and introspective art activity. Each participant received a piece of clay while their eyes were closed, encouraging them to rely on their sense of touch, rather than sight, to reconnect with the clay's inherent nature.
With eyes closed, participants were guided to feel, sense, and experience the clay's texture, shape, and form. By immersing themselves in this tactile experience, they were encouraged to tap into their subconscious minds and let their creativity flow freely. Without the constraints of visual stimuli, they could explore their inner thoughts and emotions, allowing their instincts and intuition to guide their artistic expression.
During this process, participants had the freedom to shape and mould the clay in any way they desired, creating their unique artistic interpretations without the influence of preconceived ideas. This liberating experience provided them with an opportunity to relax and delve deeper into their inner selves, fostering a sense of self-discovery and creative exploration.
By expressing themselves with eyes closed, participants tapped into their subconscious minds, uncovering hidden aspects of their personalities and emotions that might not surface under normal circumstances. The absence of visual cues allowed for a more authentic and unfiltered expression of their thoughts and feelings.
Through this meditative and introspective art activity, participants not only gained a deeper connection with the medium but also discovered new facets of their creativity and identity. It served as a powerful reminder of the value of self-discovery and the potential for personal growth through artistic expression.
18th of July 2023
FIFTH DAY
BUSINESS FINISHED
DBT HOUSE
In the last session of the fifth day, the session started with a guided meditation in order for participants to relax and free themselves from any stress, anxiety, or fears. Participants have been asked to express their feelings authentically without thinking on a piece of paper. We did a small reflection about how important it is to not be perfectionists and be conscious of everything we do, being guided by our subconscious mind, leaving, in this way, ourselves free. Participants then have been given a piece of paper (i.e., filling out the house paper), where they had to write down how they feel, their core values, etc.
19th of July 2023
SIXTH DAY
BUSINESS CONFERENCE
The day started with a business conference, where participants gathered in formal attire to present their business ideas, showcasing the progress they had achieved during the program. The conference provided an atmosphere of professionalism and excitement as each group confidently pitched their innovative ideas to their peers.
To add an element of realism and engagement, a twist was introduced – the use of "fake money." Each participant received 150 euros, representing their investment potential. As active investors, the participants had the task of discerning the most promising business idea among their peers. They interviewed each group, seeking to understand their strategies, value propositions, and potential for growth.
We continued with evaluation, dissemination-follow-up explanation, and secret friend ceremony. In the afternoon, we continued with our youth pass ceremony.