Dora Puhakka was a Speaker at TEDxEspoo Youth 2025!What does it truly mean to connect with another human being?In this TEDx Talk, Dora Puhakka invites us to reflect on one of the most universal human needs: to be seen, to be heard, and to feel that we belong. From the beginning of the Talk we are reminded that human connection is not a luxury - it is a necessity. Yet despite living in an increasingly interconnected world, many of us feel isolated, divided, and misunderstood.This Talk explores how concepts like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are not just checkboxes - they are key ingredients in building spaces where people feel valued, respected, and truly part of a whole. We are challenged to recognize that belonging is not automatic. It is something we create internationally, especially to face differences that separate us.At the center of this Talk is a personal story from Dora’s childhood - an ordinary family dinner that turned into an extraordinary lesson on empathy. When her parents swapped roles and sat in the children's seat, mimicking their behaviors. It was a demonstration of what it means to take someone else's place, to step outside one's comfort zone, and to feel what it's like to be the “other”. This left a lasting impression on Dora and helped shape her work. Through this we come to understand that empathy is not just as a feeling, but as a practice, one that requires courage and active engagement.Dora shares insights from over a decade of working in diverse organizations, highlighting peer support as one of the most impactful tools in fostering connection. In her Talk she explores how checking in on emotions - both our own and others- can help close the emotional distance that often keeps us from truly understanding one another. Instead of reacting to behavior, we are encouraged to listen to the stories behind the action, to hear the tone behind the words, and to be curious rather than judgmental.At the end of Dora’s Talk she says: “When we speak to one another, when we encounter one another, instead of looking at people who are differences, we need to look at them, trying to find the similarities that we have, because there is a lot about the differences that divides us.”This Talk reminds us that while differences may divide, stories can unite. And when we look at others not through the lens of judgement, but curiosity and care - when we dare to encounter each other from their point of view - we create the foundation for a more inclusive and empathetic world.#TEDxEspooYouth #TEDxTalk #TEDxEspooYouth2025 Dora Puhakka, a highly experienced DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) consultant from Namibia, currently based in Finland. She is a co-founding member of Kuikan Co.With over a decade of experience in the Finnish NGO sector. In recognition of her significant contributions to women's rights, she was honored with the "Mentor and Supporter of Women’s Rights" award in 2022 by AFAES (Africans and African-Europeans Associations).Additionally, Dora Puhakka serves as the Vice-Chairperson of the board for Suomi-Namibia Seura (Finnish-Namibian Society), the oldest friendship society in Finland with an African country. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx