Resilience & Empathy in Today’s Digital World

This morning, we welcomed our parent community to a meaningful workshop on Resilience & Empathy in today’s digital world. We were joined by three incredible speakers, each bringing their own insights and experiences, Dr. Tyn Tawitaranond – Chief Digital Officer, Thailand Post, Dr. Jennifer Chavanovanich – Associate Dean, Faculty of Psychology, Chulalongkorn University, and Khun Santi Siritheerajesd – Child Protection Specialist. The discussion was expertly moderated by Khun Sinida Petchveerakul, TV host and a wonderful Wellington parent. A huge thank you to our Friends of Wellington (FOW), for organising this insightful session and for bringing together such a valuable conversation for our community. The discussion explored different types of empathy—understanding another’s perspective, feeling what they feel, and taking action to support them. These qualities are especially important in the online world, where communication often lacks tone and context. We were reminded to be calm, kind, and patient online. Social media has shifted communication from one-on-one to many-to-many, creating both opportunities and challenges for young people. To close the session, our Master, Mr Chris Nicholls, asked a thought-provoking question: “Do we have digital grandparents?” A simple reminder that not everyone is part of the digital space and that real human connection remains essential. Thank you to all the parents who joined us today. Let’s keep this conversation going.