Pri Values Compassion & Empathy 1: Ilonka & Erzsébet

Teacher notes

This is the first lesson in the Year of Values series, compassion and empathy unit. Meet Ilonka and Erzsébet, two elderly sisters in Hungary who find joy, strength and purpose in tradition. Through singing and baking strudel (a skill passed down from their mother) their story offers a powerful lens on ageing, sisterhood, and how acts of care within families and communities can be deeply compassionate. Their lives reflect how empathy is shown in the everyday: in listening, sharing, and keeping connection alive across generations. Guidance: This session can be delivered from the front of the class or on student devices (if available). The lesson invites students to reflect, share, and journal on the value of respect, not as a fixed definition, but as a living, evolving part of how they show up for others. No prior Lyfta experience is necessary. For new users, see the 20-min ‘Rob in Cornwall’ introduction lesson or 45-min ‘How to Use Lyfta’ overview (links below*). Like ALL Lyfta storyworlds, these characters are unique. We don't share stories as being 'typical' or as 'single stories' of people or places. Suggested introduction for each session in Year of Values: Each week, we explore a real human story from a different part of the world, helping us connect more deeply with the values that guide how we live and relate to others. In this unit, we’re focusing on compassion and empathy - not as abstract words, but as feelings and actions that shape our relationships and communities. Rather than defining them once and for all, we’ll explore how they show up in real people’s lives. Together, we’ll practise noticing what others are feeling, imagining how we might respond with care, and reflecting on what kind of difference small acts of understanding can make. Through conversation and curiosity, we’ll grow our capacity to listen, connect, and care. Themes: Intergenerational care, tradition, family connection, everyday compassion