“It was the first time I felt like I mattered…”
During one of our camp activities, where teens sit face-to-face to share and listen in silence, a participant said something that deeply moved me:
“I felt like the other person was trusting me to sepak about deep things in her life… maybe it was the first time I truly felt like I mattered.”
That sentence stayed with me. Because it says so much, with so little.
In a world where 84.8% of young people in Portugal have experienced emotional violence in dating relationships (CIG, 2023), and 83.6% have gone through verbal violence, yelling, humiliation, or the “punishing silence”, it’s urgent to understand that communication can also heal.
The way we speak (or stay silent) can hurt as much as a punch.
But it can also do the opposite: build bridges, heal wounds, and give someone the feeling that they exist, that they matter.
LISTENING IS AN ACT OF COURAGE
According to UNICEF (2021), 7 out of 10 teens who feel lonely have no one to talk to openly. Many are afraid of being judged or misunderstood.
That’s why, at Waves & Minds, we teach that listening is more valuable than giving advice. Listening with presence. With an open heart.
Listening to someone might be the greatest gift we can give.
THE IMPACT LIES IN THE LISTENING
Empathetic communication isn’t just a social skill, it’s a tool for transformation.
- Teens who feel heard are 4 times more likely to engage positively in group settings. (Harvard, 2020)
- Constant aggressive communication increases the risk of anxiety, insomnia, and even physical health problems. (APA, 2022)
Hurtful words harm not only the mind, but the body too.
YOUR VOICE BUILDS
At our camp, we create spaces where words are safe, silence is respected, and listening is active.
Where trust grows not from what is said, but from how we are with each other.
When a young person feels that they matter, they:
- Gain self-confidence
- Learn to trust others
- Discover they can lead, starting by listening
Your voice can build or destroy. Choose it with awareness.
