An interactive role-playing game is bridging generational divides and fostering global understanding
This article was written by Salzburg Global Fellow Parag Mankeekar, who attended the KFAS-Salzburg Global Leadership Initiative.
How can innovative tools address the complexities of generational conflicts and evolving societal values? RealLives Simulations, with its unique methodology, stands out as a particularly effective tool in bridging these divides, offering insights into how diverging values can be reconciled in a rapidly changing world.
RealLives Simulations operates on a powerful premise: allowing individuals to experience life from the perspective of someone else, anywhere in the world. This immersive experience goes beyond traditional educational methods by placing users in simulated environments where they make choices and face the consequences of those choices, mirroring the complexities of real life. This methodology is not just about fostering empathy; it’s about understanding the intricate web of factors that shape individuals’ lives, decisions, and, ultimately, their values.
During the "Uncertain Futures and Connections Reimagined: Connecting Generations" program of the KFAS-Salzburg Global Leadership Initiative, Salzburg Global Fellows in the “Diverging Values” working group underscored the importance of empathy and understanding in addressing generational conflicts. We left with a renewed sense of the importance of seeing the world through each others’ eyes.
RealLives Simulations offers a direct pathway to achieving this understanding. By engaging with the platform, users can live through the challenges and triumphs of individuals from vastly different backgrounds and generations, providing a profound sense of connection that transcends age, culture, and geography.
Despite our differences, there are universal human experiences and aspirations. RealLives Simulations brings this point home by demonstrating that, regardless of where or when we live, the fundamental desires for love, security, and a sense of belonging unite us all. This realization can significantly mitigate generational conflicts by highlighting common ground and fostering a more inclusive approach to understanding diverging values.
Furthermore, RealLives’ methodology emphasizes the role of choice and consequence in shaping our lives and values. By navigating the simulated lives of others, users gain insight into how circumstances, decisions, and societal norms influence one’s path. This understanding is crucial in addressing the challenge of diverging values, as it encourages users to consider the context behind differing perspectives, fostering a more nuanced approach to generational differences.
Integrating RealLives Simulations into ongoing efforts to bridge generational divides offers a promising strategy for addressing the challenges highlighted in Salzburg. The platform can serve as a supplementary tool in educational settings, workshops, and dialogues aimed at understanding and reconciling generational conflicts.
By providing a tangible experience of walking in another person’s shoes, RealLives can transform abstract discussions about values and beliefs into concrete experiences of empathy.
As society continues to grapple with the rapid pace of change, tools like this will be invaluable in cultivating a more inclusive, empathetic, and understanding world.
Parag Mankeekar is the founder and CEO of the RealLives Foundation in India. RealLives is an innovative life simulator at the forefront of EdTech, blending software technology with socio-emotional learning, designed to nurture global empathy by championing causes like pluralism and peacebuilding while emphasizing vital 21st-century skills. Parag has a background as a medical doctor, with an expansive journey that delves into public health and anthropology. His multidisciplinary approach has led him to tackle diverse social challenges, from pioneering hospitals to orchestrating disaster relief and deciphering terrorism in regions like India and Afghanistan.
This article featured in our digital publication, which includes more coverage from the KFAS-Salzburg Global Leadership Initiative program on "Uncertain Futures and Connections Reimagined: Connecting Generations".
The KFAS-Salzburg Global Leadership Initiative is a multi-year program that annually brings together an international, intergenerational, and interdisciplinary network of Korean and global thought leaders to create new connections and tackle global challenges.
