Tematikus Ülés 7

For more than 25 years, I practiced “love in action” as a nonprofit photographer and fundraiser - supporting children’s education, creating animal sanctuaries, and fostering hope in vulnerable communities.
Then, in rural Ethiopia, I received the devastating news that my son Blaise had died by suicide.
As I waited to begin the long journey back to the United States, a kind man named Assefa sat beside me, holding my hand for ten hours.
That simple gesture did not erase my grief, but it revealed something profound: even the smallest acts of care can ripple outward with immeasurable strength.
Since then, I have carried this deeper understanding into all my work, from creating peace gardens in places scarred by conflict to nurturing global projects of compassion.
The human touch, I have learned, is not only physical - it is the empathy, presence, and love we extend to one another.
This talk reflects on how the human touch - whether through a life’s mission or a moment’s kindness - can heal, connect, and transform.

Fairy tales (a type of folk tale) are stories featuring seven recurring characters, each of whom has a specific role to play in bringing about a "happy ending." The helper role is of outstanding importance in these tales: he/she embodies the abilities that the hero lacks, without which the hero would be unable to achieve his goal. The climax of fairy tales is the scene in which the hero and his helper find each other and then join forces. However, this process is never random: there is a specific order to the type of helper assigned to a fairy tale hero or a given problem. The presentation introduces this logical connection model, also touching on how today's helping professionals can use the helper model found in fairy tales in their work.