Ditch the Small Talk: A Roundup of Regional Initiatives Bringing Back Human Connections
In a world of overwhelming digital noise and too much time spent mindlessly scrolling in front of screens, how can we go back to fostering human connections and finding meaning in lost conversations?
Tools, Initiatives, and Games to Kick Start Your Journey into Meaningful Bonds
There are ways we can nudge our brains to start having interesting conversations with people we have known for years and with strangers alike. Let’s take you through some of those engaging tools.
Intentional Conversations With Alia
If you live in Egypt, you can check out this initiative founded by Alia El Masry with the intention of getting to know strangers and bonding over shared curiosities.
During planned events, the group of participants is divided into smaller numbers that would engage in conversations probed by a series of curated questions that take them beyond superficial talk.
On why she started holding space for strangers to bond, Alia said, “I was eager to connect with people, to find my tribe, and be part of a community.”
Since the launch, Alia has been witnessing real connections and ideologies being transformed. She received feedback about how some people felt less lonely and how the experience helped others with their anxiety.
Time Left
When using Time Left, you start out by filling out the form listing where in the world you are located, answering some questions about your interests, and waiting to be matched with a group of strangers to have dinner with!
As they say quite beautifully on their website: “free-fall into social possibilities, without digital screens.”
The Connectivity Game
A deck of cards categorized into six conversational themes, ‘Connectivity’ takes you and your group of players on a quest to get to know each other beyond small chatter.
The game was created by Dalia Chourbagui (may her soul rest in eternal peace) as a way to “build bridges of understanding, strengthen the bonds that tie us together, and create a space where our true selves can shine,” as she puts it.
It is also worth noting that all proceeds go to benefit children with learning disabilities.
Women Circles / Men Circles
Such circles are valued as sacred gatherings for individuals of the same gender, offering a supportive space for community connection and safe conversations on a wide range of topics, including emotional, social, and creative empowerment.
Although possibly uncommon for men in the Middle East and North Africa Region, men’s circles open a world of conversations redefining masculinity and targeting mental health in cultures where men are judged for expressing feelings.
The Value of Human Connections Beyond Small Talk and a Digital Life
It is an instinctual human need to bond with fellow humans and grow within a community of shared connections. In an era taken over by surface-level digital interactions, we end up feeling lonely and eager to compete with lives shared only on screens while their reality is hidden behind closed doors.
If we step out of our usual day-to-day fast-paced and monotonous routines, we open ourselves up to going beyond the familiar and into new perspectives. Bonding with humans builds trust, grows communities to fall back on, and fosters compassion and empathy.
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