International School Parent Magazine - Autumn 2019

“When young minds are exposed through
education to the needs of others in our
world, both near and far, we can expect
them to become more globally-minded
and well-rounded thinkers and feelers.”
today centre around one theme — us. What
can simplify our lives? How can we improve
our lives? How can we achieve success?
While there is nothing wrong with pursuing
self-improvement or setting and achieving
individual goals, we often lack messages that
encourage the extension of empathy, love,
or service to one another. This messaging,
or lack thereof, has an effect on our young
people and what they learn to believe as
valuable pursuits in life.
Frazer Cairns continues, “If young people
do not learn to respect and actively support
the dignity of others, then the future of our
planet is, in my opinion, very bleak and
chaotic. A core aspect of education is to
help young people develop the confidence
and the energy to work towards what they
have recognised to be right.
“Clearly I hope that schools will help
produce extraordinary people; people who
will take an issue by the horns and shake
up the world. However, I hope too that
those same schools and colleges will help
to produce a far greater number of nurses,
carers in old people’s homes, loving parents,
and supportive friends who recognise that
their collective compassionate acts could
have a far greater and much longer-lasting
effect.”
When young minds are exposed through
education to the needs of others in our
world, both near and far, we can expect
them to become more globally-minded and
well-rounded thinkers and feelers. What we
may not consider, is how it can help them to
actually find their unique place in it.
American writer Frederick Buechner
defines vocation as, “the place where your
deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger
meet.” Instilling a sense of empathy in
our students sets them on a path to pursue
vocation rather than merely occupation. It
reframes the question passed down from
generations: “What will you be when you
grow up?” to, “What problem do you wish
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to solve in the future?” When students
are free to pursue vocation rather than
occupation, they develop a deep sense of
purpose in their work and private life and
learn to take delight in being generous with
the time and talents. More so, developing
an empathetic and caring character is
also proven to improve health and selfconfidence
and reduce anxiety 1 ; issues many
parents are concerned about today.
Opening young eyes to the world
For more than five years, the Swiss
humanitarian organisation, Medair, has
been partnering with international schools
in Switzerland to help educate young minds
about the needs of people affected by
natural disaster and armed conflict in some
of the world’s most isolated and vulnerable
places. Based near Lausanne, Medair has
been welcomed into international schools,
including Zurich International School,
St. George’s International School, GEMS